Summer brocante

In August, the city slows down till I get the feeling that I have it all to myself. Its not unusual to find streets full of closed shuttered shops and restaurants. As there is hardly a soul around, it is not surprising that my well loved brocantes are likewise absent.  

This summer,  I had the pleasure of discovering several summer brocantes in the countryside. I started in Aillant sur Tholon and then managed to go to two more. Let me tell you about the one in Barjac.

Aillant sur Tholon

By now dear friends, you know how much I love brocantes.  And I havent been very good about posting my recent jaunts. But I recently went to a massive one thanks to a tip from a friend.

This one was in a little village called Aillant sur Tholon, about an hour and a half away from Paris.  Its tiny with a population of about 1400 or so on a good week but on THE brocante weekend, the population swells to about 30000.  So I had no qualms dragging my family to this brocante. How could I not?

I started out bright and early, when you could still see the dewdrops glistening on the grass. And I was far from the first bird there, professional buyers started at 4 am, in order to catch the choicest bits. That said, there were tons of things to marvel at. As this is a picture heavy post, read on after the jump...

Brocante sunday

More often than not, there are at least two or three brocantes held in various parts of the city on Sundays. I'll often find treasure like this for example, but there are also times when the treasure comes in the array of interesting things laid out before one's eyes. This Sunday is a good case in point.

There was a ton of interesting china and household furnishings in the brocante I hit and while this isn't my particular field, I took pictures of the nicest objects I found.

Hope you'll  enjoy this selection as much as I did.

I never knew what these tiny glasses (I wanted to show their detail so they look big, but really they're tiny almost like shot glasses size) were for till I asked.  These particular ones date back from the 19th century and they're hand carved crystal. You can imagine how I took a step back after I heard that. I didn't want to accidentally knock them over while taking a photo! And they were used for very strong spirits--like eau de vie after dinner. Since they were so potent, they only needed small glasses!

Then I saw this gorgeous sewing kit made of, are you ready, ivory and silver.  It was absolutely gorgeous and heavy to boot too! Good thing I'm not much of a sewer else this little beauty would have come home with me. And now I know why elephants are now endangered since back then even such things as sewing kits used to be made with ivory!

 And this one, I've never seen till now. 19th century ladies smelling salts! Isn't it neat?  I don't know if the picture shows it clearly but the inside was filled to brim with what looked like rock crystal salt. I found it so beautiful and I could totally imagine some lady dressed in tight corsets holding it up to her nose so as not to swoon. I was transported. And tempted to add it to my growing pile of beautiful yet highly impractical objects in my house, but at 170 euros, I had to leave it behind.

 And finally a tapestry print hat bag, of a more recent vintage of course.  I totally found myself thinking of reasons why I had to bring it home.  Alas, reason prevailed once again. What in the world would I store in this thing?

Ah, but you didn't really think I came home empty-handed did you?

A delicately pretty milk pot and matching sugar bowl from the early 19th century. I got a really good deal too because somewhere along the way, the little sugar bowl lost its cover.  I didn't get too finicky about this detail because I love the way they look together with the pink and gold stripe running along their rims.  I love the way the handles curve and the pretty lip of the milk pot.  How could I pass it up?

Chambres des poupees

 

Since I use antique and vintage beads for my jewelry I'm perpetually at brocantes and vide-greniers,  ever on the look out for materials to use. These past winter weekends haven't been very fruitful. The cold, the damp and the gray seemed to have hidden all the treasures I normally find. I didn't even manage to take pictures.

So I wasn't expecting much when I set out this weekend.  But there were wonderful finds to be found. I'm going to have to do two posts!

Fair at St. Sulpice

a quiet street leading to St. Sulpice Church

When a good friend came by to visit, one of the things on her "must-see/must-do" list was to visit a brocante. I suppose its because I'd been talking up a storm about all the great ones I've visited in the course of finding materials to work with.  But we realized that we had packed so many activities during the weekend that we didn't manage to visit one!

Luckily, we were saved by the Antique Fair at St. Sulpice in the 6th arrondissement.  I love the area of the 6th. Maybe its the architecture, or the little cafes and boutiques, but there's something so Parisian in this area. This particular stretch around the St. Sulpice became quite popular after Da Vinci Code and even now, there are a number of people who go in the church because of that book.

The big square in front of the Church often serves as a place for antique fairs or even a Christmas market but I find that the goods on sale are often the pricier kind.  There are some gorgeous things to be found but there is an accompanying price tag.  Still and all, it makes for a fun afternoon.

Just look at this particular stand. I loved the little tables and candlesticks

Just behind these stands, you can see a portion of the big fountain, the waters of which provide a melodious background to all the antique wheeling and dealing..

 I wasn't sure we were going to find anything but my friend lucked out and snagged two gorgeous vintage necklaces! Aren't they pretty?

Here's a closeup shot of the necklace...

All in all a great afternoon!

The Bastille brocante

Gorgeous antique bird cages complete with little porcelain birds

 By definition, a brocante means the sale of used goods whatever its age. It doesn't distinguish between antique dealers with an actual shop and those without and who go around the various brocante fairs organized in the city or outside.  One distinction it does make is that antique dealers sell objects which are at least 50 years old while non-antique dealers can sell those of a more recent vintage.

In my line of work, I frequent brocantes quite often and while there are times when I come away empty handed, there is one brocante where I am sure to find a wealth of objects that are worth carting home with me. I'm talking about the Bastille brocante. Its a huge affair that takes place twice a year in the Place de la Bastille. Over 350 stalls chock full of exquisite and gorgeous objets d'art, furniture, bibelots, jewelry, linens and even paintings.  In this brocante, you have both kinds of sellers, the antique dealers with their gorgeous furniture and paintings and the requisite antique prices and the brocanteurs, let's call them for lack of better word. Though I have to say, that it doesn't stop the brocanteurs from having equally old pieces, just that they also carry a lot of schlock and kitsch.  


There is an awful lot to see and it takes me at least two visits before I can narrow down my focus. (Tip: if ever you find yourself there, you must be sure to ask for some nice stallholders for an invite so that you don't pay the entrance fee twice!)

This time was no exception. Imagine how I felt when I found one stall carrying the most gorgeous fans I've ever seen in my life.

Delicate, airy and made of such materials as marabou feathers...

and lace edged in gold with a mother of pearl base. And these were but two examples!

Someone's collection of late 19th century glass vases.

Early 20th century children's furniture. I love its rustic look and the fact that someone's child once sat here to do lessons.

 I loved this piece. Wonderful Venetian Renaissance cabinet with gold leaf finish. Just beautiful.

 This one wasn't too shabby either...

The most fun I had though was rummaging through one stall's heaps and piles of crafts kits. In the 19th century, stores sold craft kits composed of different beads, needle and thread, buttons and trimmings, all of which could be used to create either a piece of jewelry or artwork.  I loved the idea. DIY kit, 19th style.

 Finally, I found myself a strand of old french glass beads. They're this unusual wine color and when you hold them up in the light, they twinkle and shine with a golden light. Its going to go nicely with some projects I have in mind!