A rainy opening day at Chatou

An elaborate feathered headdress on an Italian bust Friday, opening day at 75th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Chatou. Notice the vendor with his back to the camera chatting on his mobile phone. Particularly when it's raining, there's not much for vendors to do while waiting for customers.

It rained to the point that more moss must have formed on this stone cherub. Despite our umbrellas, we were drenched by the nearly continuous rain.

Anything out in the open, including these red train cars and toy cars, was soaked.

Even the "Pork Floyd" pig had rivulets of water running down his face. This photo was taken in between raindrops.

This 1940s metal industrial table and seats was collecting puddles and rust, adding character to its already aged patina.

This is the lovely Julie Isore, proprietor of Agape Deco, my favourite local antiques shop. Julie always has unique, interesting and often quirky items for sale. She also has a great eye and flair for interior design. Agape has been featured in several French magazines, as well as a Paris television program about stylish interiors.

A boat's life preserver and four "banquette de cinema" or theatre seats at Agape's venue at Chatou. A zinc window casing and enamel lamp are also pictured. I took several photos of Agape's vignettes and will post more in the days to come.

A wooden chest with multi-coloured drawers and a desk with its interior painted Hermes orange.

Di of Designers' Block UK - who by coincidence was wearing an orange Hermes scarf - admires fabric trim at Blandine Bavoux's Jolie Trouvaille. Di will write about her adventures in buying items to use in her Ghost Furniture line.

Children's "bear chairs" at Jolie Trouvaille. More photos of Blandine's kitchen collectibles for sale will follow.

With this home-based brewery, you could concoct your own beer.

Copper pots and 19th-century stoves in good working order.

Rel's wife Diane checks out a 19th-century icebox. And what was Rel (Under the Microscope) doing? Trying his very best to be patient with three women intent on shopping, no matter how hard it was raining! Rel and Diane left Paris this morning. No doubt Rel will soon be blogging about his experiences in Paris and in the South of France.

I like the "Genie" sign. But where's that magic lamp when we need it? The orange plastic chairs from the '60s are fashionable once again in modernist decor - and they're virtually rainproof!

A zinc watering can filled with wooden tulips beneath a large plastic tarp, which failed to keep the rain at bay.

A hand-inlaid mandolin for Vanessa Valencia set against a stained-glass panel.

A 19th-century gothic door, rather the worse for the damp.

A 1950s red chair, captain's wheel, assorted grillwork and a zinc bottle dryer left to the mercy of the elements.

By the time the day ended, this sailboat was holding water. I'll be returning to Chatou on Monday, it is hoped in better weather. On Sunday, I'm going to a twice-annual brocante in my neighbourhood. Stop by later for more photos! Hope you're enjoying your weekend.

Comments

[Bhavna]

Sigh! This must have been soo much fun! Am waiting for winters in Delhi - that is when the fairs start here :-)

[Mélanie]

I hope you haven't bought all these wondeful treasures ...I WIWH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE ....next time with Corey

[Vida]

Tara, ignore my ignorance, I just took a closer look and realise it's a bottle dryer... I am blonde after all... Vida x

[Karen DeGroot Carter]

My favorites: the mandolin and the stained glass, the bear chairs (which my girls would adore! Just the name is fun.) and the wooden tulips, Dutch girl that I am. :)

[A Fanciful Twist]

The Mandolin, the Door, Di's Hermes scarf!!! I am greedy. hee hee... Oh, too wonderful.. One day I will be shopping with you, one day.. xoxoxo

[AnnieElf]

so many wonders but it's the stove that is absolutely divine.

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

The exciting combination of friends and the brocante is palpable ... I love what you share! xx, JP/deb

[marja]

Oh I love this kind of stuff. What an amazing pictures.

[maddie]

I LOVE that red metal table and chairs -

LOVE these photos!

[marita]

love the copper pots and the gothic door panel!! inspiring to create and decorate certain rooms of a home... somewhere in provence!!

[maryam in marrakesh]

Eeek, this looks like so much fun!! I would be looking at all the antique fabrics. How delicious.

[tongue in cheek]

Nothing can stop a true chineur! Rain brings the best out to bloom!

[Colette]

Didn't it rain the last time, if I recall? It puts such a damper on things. [pun not intended!]

I'd be standing exactly where Di is standing :)

Hope you have a dry day when you go back.

[Willie Baronet]

Tara, you have such a great eye!!

[Vida]

Hi Tara, I was wondering what "hoopy" to the right of the red chair was, if you know? Vida x

[tinker]

So much eye candy! Thank you for letting us enjoy it while staying dry! I hope the antiques didn't get too soaked, it makes me cringe thinking about the old wood, that lovely mandolin and more, getting soaked in the rain - and you, too! Hope the weather clears up so you can enjoy the rest of your weekend~xox

[rochambeau]

So sorry it rained!!!!! I know how disappointing that can be especially from the vendors side. ;-(............

BUT you and Di did get to hang out! That's FUN

[materfamilias]

What a fabulous tour! Thank you! That first photo was so chock-full of eyecatchers that I first assumed I was either missing part of it or that I was looking at the wrong photo -- I couldn't see the vendor with his phone. In fact, I had to look a third time before I spotted him; there were just too many other distractions.

[Becky]

I am absolutely dying of envy!
Becky

[bella]

These pictures are really amazing and pretty. Such beautiful finds. I hope you have a great weekend. xo

[AscenderRisesAbove]

oh look... Julie Isore has her hand on my little accessory cabinet. Ok; just kidding. But that and those colored drawers are what I would walk away with!