another side to french brocante

For many people the word brocante conjures up romantic images of France  ... chipped paint on blue shutters; mismatched china; zinc buckets full of flowers ... you know what I mean.

But there is a darker side to this business! .....

welcome to the world of industrial vintage!

a world where metal is king, and rust is chic ...

a world where wax-scented antique stores are replaced by disused hangars and fork lift trucks;

where the buyer needs to arrive with a vision, a will to transform;

and where a girl is better off in steel capped boots than Prada  :)

A world where the goods take some deciphering

and where a heavy tool kit is more useful than a pot of furniture polish

This is also part of my brocante experience.   Each of my professional clients coming here to buy, arrives with a personal wish list and style; it's up to me to interpret their wishes and lead them in the right direction.....

Another reason why I love the role I have carved out for myself via the blog, and the wonderful guests it brings me.   I can be unfolding beautiful linen sheets in the morning, and measuring steel topped workbenches in the afternoon ...

 nothing like variety to keep you on your toes!

living with French antiques - a passion

 Today I invite you to take a step back in time as I lead you to visit the home of a couple of antique and brocanteurs who do things differently.

Pascale and Olivier have taken collecting and decorating with antiques to a whole new level, as they acquire, restore and decorate homes.  This beautiful 17th century property, in Champagne country east of Paris, has been theirs for the past seven years and has proved the ideal location for displaying their beautiful collections of furniture and precious treasure.

 Their home is at once home and showroom - a window on their extraordinary eye and talent for arranging, presenting and decorating.

 Twice a year they open the ground floor of the house to the public for a big sale.  The next will be for Christmas 2013.  The rest of the year it is possible to visit and buy on appointment only.

If you are interested in visiting them for their winter sale then keep an eye on the Ventes Privées page of their website, Le Grillon Voyageur.

And if perchance your ambitions and purse are larger than required for just a Christmas sale, then I have a scoop for you!  

The couple are ready to move on!  This lovely home will be up for sale, so maybe you'd like to call it yours!  

Just one condition if you do, please promise you'll invite me to tea!

Le Grillon Voyageur

27 rue de l'ancien Hôpital
51120 Sézanne

 

antique French passementerie

When I showed my Easter loot shoot, you may have noticed two big boxes full of antique lace and passementerie.

This week I had time to take a proper look and thought you may like to see some of the contents.

 

There are several old newspapers and wrapping paper in the box, that confirms the dates between 1860 and 1902!  The beaded lace pieces are elements that would have been sewn onto ladies dresses; many around the neck line, but others scattered across a billowing skirt, or along a cuff.

 Today they are like individual handmade pieces of costume jewellery.  They could be worn as necklaces, sewn onto a special dress or even used for pillows ....






  but I'd love to hear your ideas too ... what do you think I should do with these bundles of treasure?

the early loot shoot and spring fairs to come

Despite the cold, I left the house before dawn yesterday and headed across country to check a couple of small fairs.  It is still early in the season, and the freezing temperatures don't encourage vendors to set up their stands, but I was pleased with the few bits I found.

As we head into April and May, we get to prime brocante fair season, with a choice of country fairs each Sunday.  Often in a field, or along the streets of tiny villages, and sometimes in the outbuildings of an old château, as will be the case on the first weekend in May, where I'll be off to an antique and brocante fair on the Saturday, then checking out some small village fairs on the Sunday  .... just saying .... in case anyone  wants to tag along ? ....

 Anyway back to the goodies I brought home yesterday ....  I found a selection of kitchen items ....to begin with I was charmed by these old canisters.....

then by these wonderful wooden sieves ....

had to have this huge and beautiful soup tureen ....

and this sweet pair of candle holders ....

 

I even found a set of carving cutlers for the Sunday roast lamb ...

 and this sweet little teapot .....

Everything here will be in my store today, but if you want to email directly about an item or about brocante shopping here then just fire away!

pictures from the fair

One happy blogger here (if a little weary) , a lovely day spent at the Paris fair, so much yummy stuff to see and to buy and to drool over.

I'll do a proper loot shoot over the weekend, but here is a selection of pictures from the stands that caught my eye today.

Interspersed with some pics of the vendors, I never tire of seeing them setting up their tables and chairs and settling down for a serious meal, oblivious to everyone walking past - love it!

The good news is that I return to the same fair in a few days time; so if you see anything you really really want, then let me know, and I'll try to get it for you!!