Antoine, umbrellas and canes on the avenue de l’Opéra since 1745

Antoine, the umbrella and cane house on the avenue de l’Opéra, was born in 1745, when Monsieur and Madame Antoine arrived in Paris and opened two shops, one at each end of the Pont-Neuf. Umbrellas were then the preserve of gentlemen followed by their porters.

The Antoines had an idea: to hire out umbrellas for the time it took to cross the bridge. The Pont-Neuf was then where all Paris gathered, frequented by Montesquieu, Rousseau and Voltaire. Around 1760, some fifteen years later, the house left the bridge for the Palais-Royal.

Settled at 26 galerie Montpensier, the Antoines began to make and sell canes. In 1885 the house moved to the avenue de l’Opéra. Its craft has been handed down over three generations, and it remains the oldest umbrella and cane shop in Paris.

At 10 avenue de l’Opéra, in the 1st arrondissement, the shop offers the fine canes and umbrellas that made its name, parasols, as well as hats, caps, fans, gloves and bow ties.