Second hand shops in France are one of the best places to find a steal deal. Don’t be fooled thinking there are only broken down refrigerators and used sofas in such places, most antique dealers frequent these shops, though they would never admit that to you nor me.
The oval pedestal table cost less than a $100, though at an antique shop it would fetch close to $400. The wing back chair sitting next to the pedestal table cost… I won’t tell you the price otherwise you might be on the next plane to France just to come to this shop! On the other hand if you hop the plane let’s make a deal, I’ll give you the address if you can please bring me tortillas, chocolate chips and my little nieces with you. Fair trade isn’t it?
Early nineteen century furniture is not very popular in France therefore it is a dime a dozen. This type of furniture is not my favorite, though I have seen some of these pieces painted and they end up looking rather nice. A set of six chairs, a table and the matching sidebar sold for less than $1000 at the second hand shop yesterday. If this type of furniture is your cup of tea, than you might think of coming to France, there is a ton of it for sale.
A pair of frou frou urns, this one had a cracked bottom but still stood proudly as I took it’s photo. I dare say this is an Italian piece hiding out in France. That happens as France and Italy are neighbors, the furniture goes back and forth, but the style is evident, it is not French.
Textiles, especially old ones like this one cause me to daydream and stare into space. I would still be there if the shop keeper hadn’t grabbed my arm and shook me, "Eh, Americaine cava toi?" (Hey American are you okay?)
This piece is the an unfinished seat cover. Wool thread, hand-drawn design (note: there isn’t any color chart or numbers in those little squares!) I am guessing this piece to be 150 years old. Of course I bought it. How could I not?
A divine desk, a drop leaf writing table. Inside there are little drawers with locks to hold ones secret love letters. It is a sweetie. The design is older than it is. Imagine with the industrial revolution reproductions started to be produced, and those reproduction are antiques now. If you cannot afford a real Louis 15th writing table you might consider buying an old reproduction of that period. A hundred year old reproduction costs far less than the real McCoy.
A mercury glass candlestick. When I first started buying antiques I couldn’t afford even a reproduction from IKEA let alone a reproduction from the 19th century. Though the desire to have old things verses new things was stronger than me. I started buying small bits and pieces. Items that I would use everyday, things such as a clock, dishes, a pillowcase, a candlestick…little things that I could use daily and that made me feel that I was surrounded by beautiful antiques (Insert: Daydreamer in her castle.)
The trick about buying at a second hand shop is that you must go often. Luckily for me there is a second hand shop right by the grocery store that I frequent. Every time I go to the grocery store I stop by the second hand shop. The trick is that out of the five times that I stop at the second hand shop I might only find something once. Nevertheless, when I do find something I usually forget about the grocery store!
Pure delight is finding a piece like this and paying less than peanuts for it. Who needs peanuts anyway?
My Mother loves country style antiques, what about you what is your favorite style? If you tell me I will try to find it and post it for you.
Do you like vintage garden ware? A pair of lions to guard your door? Urns in which to plant toparies or maybe a wheel-barrel, or a gnome?
Often when you find something at a second hand shop chances are that you will need to add some TLC to the old piece. It is part of the course, paying less has its price. Though when I find something I like at a second hand shop I consider paying less a double bingo prize. Re-painting, or re-wiring doesn’t break my heart though seeing something I cannot afford at a refined antique shop does.
Though at such places one can also find mundane things such as wooden spools, canning jars, baskets, books, or frames…that is the real beauty of a second hand shop: Someone’s junk might be your treasure.
Those items might inspire you. Look at this antique hand-crafted spool shelf. Did you know you could use spools to make a shelf?
Hickory dickery dock the mouse ran up the clock, baby!
This sort of clock face goes inside a clock case.
The second hand shop that I go to is never arranged. The items move to fast to be put in any grandoise order. You have to have a good eye, or have a good imagination to see the item cleaned up and properly placed.
Imagine the bed set up with a crystal chandelier overhead, white cotton sheets with lace trim, and the bedroom window wide open filling the room with the breeze of a new day.
A small day bed with points de capiton, "upholstery buttons". These buttons, this design is the most expensive to create in upholstery. Older models, like most antiques are styled on both sides, front and back. The fabric was royal blue satin.
Each region in France has its own style of furniture, its own look, specialties… Where I live, in the south of France the style is called Provencal.
So after walking around taking photos of whatever caught my eye in this second hand shop I realized that I had better stop and go to the grocery store, otherwise the beauitful antique cupboards at home were going to remain bare like Mother Hubbard’s cupboards.
Tomorrow photos of the market, or maybe just desserts.
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