After all these years of going to the brocante, I love when I learn something new, especially when I have wondered about a certain thing for such a long time. Over the years the brocante has taught me about the French culture, history, lifestyle and the purpose of certain things. The stories of objects being it two hundred years old or a thing from yesterday can connect one person to another, one can hear the story of yesterday and feel it in the present moment. The other day at the brocante I met an antique dealer who sells mostly linens. I asked her why it is that the hems in linen pieces are sewn right side up when in the States they are often right side down?
Well, back in the 1800s and early 1900s monogrammed linens and such were made for a bride's trousseau. When the hem was turned right side up it was a wish for happiness and good luck. So imagine that all those linens I have seen over the years with the hem sewn this way were for a newly married couple's happiness, and not just an entire generation of seamstress errors. Of course, I went home and checked every linen I own to see if they were just linens or happiness ever after linens.
Handmade wedding crown from the turn of the century.
Waxed stephanotis and orange blossoms.
I guess as Chelsea and Martin plan their wedding I am seeing wedding everywhere.
250,000 plus couples marry each year in France.
And over the years a collection of household items were created just for the occasion.
Silverware, linens, furniture, marriage trunks, mirrors, marriage certificates, clothing, invitations, menus…
Those things can be found at the brocante as families change, move on, pass on, let go…
Many a blanket, bed linens are now being dyed. White was a symbol of purity. A new chapter, fresh and clean. But now color "sells" better. Antique linens have turned a page, renewed itself, dying is the rage, white is going fast into the vats of color.
The bride claims color, why wear white?
Colorful bouquets replaced white years ago.
Bloom, express and become- happiness is in the making.
May happiness be yours today.
xxx
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