Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Antiquing in China… Just for you Brother Mathew (and my faithful brocante readers too :))

Antiques china

 

 While in rural China I saw a peek of this antique shop.

Did I stop?

Did I buy anything?

Did my heart pitter patter?

 

 

Vases china
 

 

Antique shop china

We spent hours and hours in the Hutongs (neighborhoods) in Beijing. We walked down a street that had some antique shops… the exterior of this shop attracted me more than what was inside. What was it that grabbed my attention: The bike stationed outside or the peeling paint?

 

Antiques in china

 

(As Marie-Noelle and Rebecca noticed in the comment section… My brocanting bug hasn't stopped because of "my brother's ultra brief comments these last siw weeks"… though who knows… maybe he is missing the brocante? Or speechless that I haven't "talked" about the brocante for six weeks?)

 

Curioshop beijing

 

Most of the antique shops I saw in Beijing were closed that day.

 

China exterior piece

 

The pieces I admired.. were not for sale, but part of the building in the Hutong.

 

 

Elements hutong

 

Outside the front door of most Hutong homes, two stone elements stand guard. I am sure they symbolizing something hospitable… anyway many of the Hutongs are disappearing as China grows.

Where do these elements go?

Moreso, where do the people and their lively wonderful community sense lifestyle go?

 

Antiquing in china

And at the other antique shop that I dreamt of going to… it had this tough, mean, little, barking machine that nearly bite my hand off when I bent down to see something in a box.

I took his photo instead, he was not smiling…. Did my Brother Mathew put something in his drink that day just to keep me away?

 

 

 

Wall art china

 

Dear Brother Mathew,

I thought that when I was in China I would see the image I have had in my head since I was a kid: Thousands of black bicycles with all the people dressed the same. Wrong. That image is no longer in view. Mind you bicycling is far from gone. On any given day, on any street, no matter where you are in China, whether in the heart of Shanghai or in a rural village you will see bicyclers.

You asked for more bicycle photos, you would you bicycling addict! I thought you would get a kick out of this.

Love Your Sister,

Who Did Not Go to the Brocante, nor Antique Shop While Travelling… 


 

 

Butter fly basket bicycle china

Do you think my brother's comments about stop blogging about the brocante, had an affect on me?

Nah! Just the size of my suitcase plus a few other preventing details. 

Yesterday, I went to a brocante shop in France that I love… next to it was a NEW sign that read…

"Asian Market".

God is that a sign!?

Comments

31 responses to “Antiquing in China… Just for you Brother Mathew (and my faithful brocante readers too :))”

  1. Celeste

    Thank you Corey for being you! The perfect Corey.

    Reply
  2. annechung@msn.com

    I was going to say, you should buy the building, it’s a better curio. It’s so beautiful. I’m glad one can still see these old buildings. In most places in China they are razing them so fast replacing them with newer buildings.

    Reply
  3. Visual Vamp

    Wonderful as usual. Most antiques in China today are, how shall I say this nicely, reproductions. Nothing good, if you can find it, is allowed out of the country. Your photos on the other hand are priceless.
    Safe travels darling.
    xo xo

    Reply
  4. kay@onslenderthreads.com

    Corey, you are now part of my days . . . a treasured part. Your verve, mindfulness, eye for wonder, and adventuresomeness have pierced my heart. Thanks . . . you are definitely a window to my world.

    Reply
  5. French Curiosités

    Next time both of your suitcases need to be empty when you head over 🙂

    Reply
  6. Brother Mathew

    I knew you were saving the best for last. Brocantes and Bicycles. If you ever find a antique bicycle shop – one that sells only antique bicycle stuff in your travels – let me know. I will meet you there and we will shop in harmony.

    Reply
  7. Ana

    Welcome home. I have followed at times at a distance. I did not comment much but followed avidley. Look forward to brocant finds close to home. Brothers are there to poo poo, especially if they are proud of you and love you lots!!

    Reply
  8. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    1. What DID you buy? Textiles early on, and I remember you saying that your suitcase was bulging. How about a show-and-tell blog day, as if we were over at the house and you were spreading out the new treasures on the bed to tell us the story of each…
    2. Have any walls where you can hang your own sort of antiques: framed photos from the trip?
    3. Find a vintage bicycle shop. Quick. So Mathew will have to make good on that promise.

    Reply
  9. tongue in cheek

    Dearest Brocante Bike Stuff Mathew,
    I am holding you to this.
    Watch out I might find stuff in
    Africa, or New Zealand, or better yet China.
    You better get that passport in order!
    xx C

    Reply
  10. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Rebecca,
    Good idea!
    I bought baby hats like I mentioned in the beginning of our travels.
    We had some clothes made…
    I bought a tea pet (Have you heard of that before?)
    Maybe I will post about our little treasures….
    C

    Reply
  11. Amy Kortuem

    That’s TOTALLY a sign. That’s exactly how you’re going to integrate China into your life – with those two shops, right next to each other.
    That is hilarious.
    (And don’t we always want to do exactly more of what our brothers tell us not to do? hee hee hee)

    Reply
  12. Franca Bollo

    In defense of the dog, he was protective. Or maybe he saw your foot and it frightened him.

    Reply
  13. FrenchGardenHouse

    What a fun, fun trip, Corey! Love that you went and saw and had a good time. Yippeee….and thanks for taking us with you on your travels. xo Lidy

    Reply
  14. Brenda L from TN

    So glad you two are home,safe and sound…I want to see what you bought…besides the linens you mentioned…
    Great pictures of your trip!! I loved them all…felt like I was there too…

    Reply
  15. Laura

    Welcome home!
    Did you bring your lovely daughter home as well?
    Thank you for sharing so much of your travels and experiences with us. I can’t imagine blogging while under the influence of dim sum!

    Reply
  16. Sue J.

    Corey — Love and adore the bicycle sign. It is a treasure. Welcome home. Hope your foot is better.

    Reply
  17. LibbyWNZ

    Corey, if you ever find yourself in New Zealand please do get in touch!! I’m looking for a bike at the moment – an Electra – they are sooooo cute. Thinking of picking one up in the States when we are there in May and bringing it back – Sacha took his bike with him didnt he? Thanks for taking us on your version of the Orient Express!!

    Reply
  18. Elaine L.

    How fortunate to be able to see part of the old China before it is gone. They really are into progress and creating a new modern China.
    I do believe that China will, one day, be the premier world power.
    ~elaine~

    Reply
  19. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Laura
    Chelsea returns to France on May 4.
    I hope she can brings some dim sum 🙂

    Reply
  20. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi FB
    Oh yes he was very protective, darn cute too.
    C

    Reply
  21. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh Amy you are right about that!
    I didn’t buy anything at the brocante, but at the Asian Market I bought a wok.
    C

    Reply
  22. Tongue in Cheek

    Hi Libby
    Sacha did take his bike, but he has found other interest….!!!
    We do hope to travel to NZ maybe next year.
    C

    Reply
  23. Franca Bollo

    I can tell. He’s got a little Buddha belly going, too. Woof.

    Reply
  24. Franca Bollo

    C. Puff: Make sure the antique bicycle shop – one that sells only antique bicycle stuff – sells antique puncture-free tires for antique bicycles.

    Reply
  25. marie

    Great blog post! My daddy will like it! He likes to look at bikes. The dog is cute though!

    Reply
  26. Penny

    What a delight these pictures and your words are. I have enjoyed every moment.

    Reply
  27. momof5

    Welcome home Corey and Yann!
    To Annie Chung..there is a museum in Salem Ma. called the Peabody Essex museum that brought back an entire old home from a village in china and reconstructed it in the museum. Workers from the village came to Salem to put it back together and now one can see the history and photos of all of those that once lived in the home. The last owners came to the opening of the home at the museum and were so happy that it will now live on in this way rather than be destroyed to modernization. It is a beautiful home with so much history and it makes me kind of sad that it is now a museum but I guess that is better than the alternative of being razed.

    Reply
  28. Tongue in Cheek

    F.B.
    Regarding belly: Mat or the little dog?

    Reply
  29. Monica

    I am amazed Corey that you get such great imagery with such flat light…may I use the top image as inspiration for a painting please?
    Go with Chelsea by all means!

    Reply
  30. Chrissie

    Great blog. Outstanding photos. My life is the reverse of yours. I am French from Paris with family from Pléneuf Val-André and I reside in the US. I very much enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for all your wonderful posts.

    Reply
  31. ferienhaus in lloret de mar

    Hey..thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures with all of us..I just love these pictures,they are really very beautiful..I have never seen these kinds of pictures of China..you did a great a job..Keep it up..

    Reply

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