Antique shows, or "antique salons" as they are called in France, are not my usual stomping ground to find antiques. I prefer flea markets, and brocantes. The prices are softer on my pocket book and the items more decorative, than valuable. Also, at flea markets, and brocantes the chance is greater that one can find something valuable for a fraction of the cost. Though with that said, the salons offer more furniture and rare pieces that never hit the dirt of a flea market.
Antique salons, are elegant, the antiques are in perfect condition, well positioned, detailed and ready to be plucked and put into the home.
At the flea markets and brocantes one often needs imagination to see beyond the dust, grim and the Topsy-turvey display.
Melanie, an antique dealer friend of mine, asked me to help her set up her booth at the Antique Salon in Tholonet.
The Salon in Tholonet is held once a year, in May, under a large, white tent. There are about 100 antique dealers and consider one of the most prestigious fairs in the south of France.
I thought I would show you a glimpse of what it was like putting the booth in place.
First, the organizers set up the foundation of the tent, set up the structure of the booths, wire each booth with electricity, cover the walls with fireproof fabric, and lay the carpet which is covered in plastic to protect it while the antique dealers set up.
The antique dealers come (from all over France) to the Salon with their antiques stuffed in trucks, covered in an array of old sheets, quilts, blankets, bubble wrap and far-out fabric. Let me tell you I could have had a field day scooping up the dirty, old sheets. But I resisted the urge and took photos instead… thinking about it now, what a fool I was!
Ladders, and electric drills are a must to setting up a booth at the antique salon.
The antiques are carried in, piece by piece. (Though, with that said, there are dealers running around buying things "off the trucks" before items ever had a chance of going into the booths.)
Most of the activity, or conversations had to do with paintings. The booths with paintings seem to be lively with conversation. I overheard that there was a Cezanne painting… much of the conversation circled around it.
Antique chairs, tables, chandeliers, teacups, mirrors, statues, urns, books, dishes, paintings, cabinets, book shelves, clocks, desk, guns, candlesticks… you name it, it was there. Well I didn't see a kitchen sink come to think of it.
Tomorrow, I'll show the end results of the French antique salon in Tholonet.
Tholonet Antique Salon May 8 – May 18,
10:00 until 7:00,
Until then beware of the guard dog.
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