My friend Nance who I met at Marburger Antique show last September came to France on a buying trip. How fun does that sound? On an antique buying trip in France? Going from one antique fair, market, shop… and best of all private homes shopping for antiques. Doesn't that sound like a dream job? Can you imagine when someone asks, "What do you do for a living?" saying,
"Oh, I hunt for French antiques in France. And while there take in the sites, drink alittle wine, have a meal or two, say, "Oh la la often" and wear a beret."
Mind you every job has pitfalls, drudgery and stress. The job of antiquing in France does too. But when it comes to wearing hats, a beret is not too bad.
I knew Nance was going to be in France, I invited her to come and stay with us. I had to twist her arm. She didn't want to bother us. "Really," I teased, "Bother us, please!" Nance is the one who lent me her computer with internet access when I was in Marburger. Basically, gave me her computer, just because she read my blog and didn't want me to miss a day blogging.
And she didn't want to bother us when she was in France. Really!!
Eventually, she came and we went antique hunting together.
We went to visit my friend Melanie's, and while at her dad's shop Nance found this castle door. I had walked by that door several times, didn't even notice it. I guess, you can say that just because an antique in right in front of you doesn't mean you will see it. Or, you could say my attention was divided between gilded carved wood, peeling grey paint, and a mercury glass mirror. Or maybe I missed it because I was busy chewing gum trying to master blowing a bubble.
Nance took the measurements of the door, and some photos for a client she had in mind
The door had iron studs penetrating through it, with thick, rounded nail heads on the both sides. No chopping this door down. The forged iron hinges looked like artwork in themselves.
The iron lock worked and had its key. Not your ordinary key. It was nearly the size of a garden shovel! It would be hard to lose, let alone carry around. I think it weighed hundred pounds.
The door weighed a couple tons, and to think those hinges allowed it to open and close as if it were as light as a ribbon blowing in the breeze.
I guess you could say, "They don't make doors like that anymore."
In the end we found out that what we thought was a castle door, was a convent door.
The convent was being transformed into a retirement home, and this door didn't meet the building code requirments.
Sad but true.
A door that has endured two world wars, many comings and goings, and a whole lot of life is being replaced by something that won't last, nor have value, and in my opinion not as beautiful as this door.
Funny isn't it were value is placed.
In the end Nance's client didn't want the door. And we left it hoping it would find a home soon.
Notes:
-Nance Harper's Antiques can be found here.
-Nance took the photos above.
-And, I lost my self imposed bet with my brother Mat. And my brother Mat can close his eyes if he wants to when I write about BROCANTE.
-Also, yesterday when I wrote Mat's house was old, I hope you didn't think old as ugly, but it is old as in beautiful!! I think you know I love old, but I wanted to clarify that.
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