Antiquing in France takes place on the weekends. There are several different names to the type of antiquing in France:
Vide de Grenier: are similar to a garage sale. If you are willing to look through a ton of toys, stacks of clothing, comic books and modern day throw aways you might find the one or two diamonds in the heap of not so old stuff. Vide de Grenier are organized on the streets, and are for the local habitats to have a chance to sell the things they do not want (since individual garage sales are illegal in France.) Vide de Greniers take place in most cities and towns once or twice a year.
Marche aux Puces: or flea market in English, usually are organized by a club, or group and happen in a parking lot, or somewhere right outside of town. Each city has a marche aux puces, and they often happen once a week, or twice a month, on the weekend. Marche aux puces have a mixture of everything, junk to jewels, clothes to furniture, paintings to posters, plastic to gild… you have to look fast, and go early to find the treasures. Dealers and locals set up at the marche aux puces. Some of the best in the area (Provence) are in Marseilles, Fos, Toulon, and Villneuve d'Avignon. The earlier you go the better… between five and six in the morning. Though with that said, there is always something, for everyone, at any time, at a marche aux puces.
Brocante: an antique market. Some furniture, but mostly smalls. A perfect place to go to find a variety of antiques. Prices are better than in a shop. Mainly dealers set up at the brocante, but every brocante must accept non dealers too, especially if they live in the area where the Brocante is taking place. Brocantes happen on nearly every square inch of France. Most major cities have a Brocante going on once a month. Small towns, like my village, have Brocantes twice a year. Sunday is the day for Brocantes.
Some of the best in the area (Provence) are Beausset, Avignon, Aix en Provence, Aubagne, Carpentras, Isle sur la Sorgue… Lyon and Paris also has fantastic Brocantes.
Again go early.
Antique fairs (like the ones mentioned above) are like outdoor museums. A perfect place to learn about the French culture and regional traditions.
Yesterday at the brocante I met up with a woman in her eighties. She had several old, black and white photo-postcards in her hand. I asked her why she collected postcards. She answered, that she was from the town depicted on the postcards. That since she moved to the south of France, and rarely goes "home," that she buys old postcards showing "her town" as she remembers it. "It makes me feel good." she said.
Above a glass marked with "Vichy". The glass fits in the little basket, that has a long leather strap, and a latch on it. The glass was used when one would go to visit Vichy for the famous healing waters. A well protected glass was needed to drink from the Vichy water source.
Before Thermoses and plastic water bottles, baskets were used to protect the glass for hiking.
A Vichy glass with its own basket cost around 8 to 10 euro at the Brocante. The older ones are etched.
One could go simply crazy at the Brocantes, the variety and antiques are endless.
When I followed my French Husband to France I brought two suitcases, mostly my clothes, a few books, a holy water container that my grandmother gave me, a cookbook and some photos.
Our first apartment was in Paris. Nearly everything we own, we have bought from the brocante. It has been a long, steady, dusty, dirty, sometimes broken, creative adventure.
After twenty some years, going to the brocante is no longer a necessity for creating our home. I usually look for little things to decorate for the holidays, or old letters, linens, gifts and small wonders that are not in perfect condition. Of course I am pleased if I find the rare item that is worth more than what it is worth…
Mainly I go for the adventure, the stories that fill the air and to learn the history of the things gathered.
As there is plenty of antique French linen in France, enough to go to the moon and back, I limit myself by only buying linens that are in perfect condition, handmade, and with monograms. AND that cost less than what they should cost. That is the key that controls my buying everything in sight. It must cost a fraction of what it normally costs.
Note, the hand stitched hem. I prefer that detail rather than a hem stitch by a machine. It is another way of controlling my buying at the brocantes…. well that and money. Gosh, if I had a ton of money would I be greedy and buy everything at the brocantes?
A pair of hand painted wooden shoes, sabots in French. French Husband's great Uncle had a wooden shoe making company. I went into his shop after he died…. that is another story…
I bought these wooden shoes yesterday. In France children put their shoes out for Christmas to be filled, like some do stockings. These will be my shoes next Christmas. Who doesn't want to be a child at Christmas?
I found this sweet, piano lesson, book. I don't play the piano. The engraving inside caught my attention, and the dedication: To the Mother of the Family…
What would you like to find at the brocante? If you list it in the comments I will try to find it, photo it, and put it on the sidebar of my blog. Titled "The Things You Like".
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