Why, hello there. Would you like to go shopping with me? It’s a beautiful day out, why not? What? Oh, for antiques of course. Is there anything better?
For you see, while we were up at the world’s most peaceful mazet recently, the twice yearly Foire Internationale Art et Antiquités was being presented at a mere ten minutes drive away in the always beautiful L’Isle sur la Sorgue.
So what say you? Shall we swan along together? A tiny bit of time travel will be required but just wiggle your nose Bewitched-like and we’re off…This week’s posts will be dedicated to a little virtual wish-listing. And while I am sure that Remi will sigh in exasperation at my including too many photos (as usual), I wanted to make sure that there was something for everyone…
Of course, all of the usual suspects were present, such as charming old pétanque balls…
…eye-blinding bling…
…la vannerie that would look very smart slung over a crooked elbow at the farmer’s market back home…
…plus – the perpetual favorite – pots à conserve whose prices finally seem to be going back down…
…as well as grain sacks waiting to be plumped into expensive scratchy pillows or upholstery in upscale boutiques around the world.
But there were a lot of unusual items as well.
I was especially fascinated by these oriental molds for printing wall paper. Wouldn’t they look lovely mounted in a group in a hallway or in a bath?
Similarly, Remi and I were both drawn to this set of silver molds until we saw that A) it was 287 Euros and B) it was made of ivory. Ahhh, non et non.
For the intrepid, there were many tables crammed with interesting and inexpensive bric-a-brac to trawl through. Alas, patience is not exactly my middle name…
No, I was drawn by the bigger gestures and especially the stands that offered an intact aesthetic, such as with this seller’s juxtaposition of French provincial with Asian antiques. Now we are talking.
These six sculpted Chinese flowers might have gone home with me in better days (ahem) and I loved how beautifully they complimented the gorgeous faded colorway of the dresser.
Of course, there were plenty of smaller pieces that caught my eye.
Who can ever have enough crackly old suitcases to stack at the end of the bed…
…or passmenterie to pull back those extra long linen drapes?
Pieces with authentic or even exaggerated patina were still in abundance, even while the “whitewash everything/Annie Sloan chalk paint” look is fading into the past.
Simple seems to be the order of the day, which is just fine by me…
…as well as using basic items or materials creatively, such as these stacked (albeit wobbly) vegetable crates as end tables…
…or sections of old Indonesian boats to form a perfect outdoor sofa (although I will pass on the hot pink plastic Rhino head, thank you very much).
Not all of the faire’s 250 vendors (in addition to the permanent shops) are in the old goods business.
I knew that I had seen the yellow mid-century style console before and sure enough, everything at this stand was the work of two young women from Arles. Eve and Soriana, created their company En goguette (which means “a little bit drunk”) in 2009 and since then have been creating their designs out of cardboard. The results are precisely well thought out, fun and environmentally friendly.
Which is just wonderful. For while it is always a delight to puff up the dust of the past, how important it can be to keep one eye squinting directly towards the future…
Have a wonderful week everyone! More soon…
And thank you kindly for all of your interest concerning Vickie Lester’s “It’s in His Kiss”…it tickled me pink.
I think I'd have gone through the stuff on the table. Did I see toy soldiers? BTW I mentioned your blog, with a link today.
My fingers and toes were twitching just seeing your pictures. Nothing I like better than French Brocantes. I've never seen a blue confit pot before. And you show two!!! I need to get over there more often.
Love those linen grain sacks. I make custom dog bed covers out of the softer variety. They launder well, are Eco friendly and sturdy. Such great fun. The French never seem to throw anything away, they just keep reselling them.
I wondered what you would think of that company, V! and the wallpaper moulds were more beautiful than my photo…
Hmmm…could it have been Marguerite?? I know what you are talking about though and it is still there!
You are welcome for a visit whenever you would like Loree! 🙂
Your Dad owned a thrift store?!? Oh my that is just so amazing and explains a tiny bit of your sparks of wonder kindled swiftly and with a pure heart. Wow.
I know, I saw that too! So perhaps you could buy just the one but that would not a game of petanque make!
Yay! I mean…didn't you two just get back from an epic voyage? hehe 😉
Fabulous… There is little as relaxing as antiquing for some of us… so tactile, so many stories of the objects could speak, so much pleasure in their worn surfaces and usefulness. Love, love, love those pétanque balls. (I would have had difficulty resisting them, like several others.)
And that's the only trouble with antiquing. The temptations can be overwhelming. (Cue one already overstuffed little house, and my mother's and grandmother's treen and other odds 'n ends going oh-so-far-back.)
xo
D. A.
I was thinking the same thing.