An early 19th-century marble statue representing La France is flanked by parts of zinc weathervanes and alphabet letters at the 76th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites, a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Ile de Chatou. These photos were taken last Friday, opening day. This morning my Canadian friend Meg and I braved gale force winds, heavy rain and three trains to visit the brocante - only to find it closed, due to gale force winds and heavy rain! Weather allowing, the brocante continues daily through Sunday, March 16th.
A handpainted puppet theatre, with handmade marionettes.
A large marble garden urn surrounded by 19th-century French furniture with modern reupholstery.
An ornate giltwood mirror is accented by handpainted gilt pillars. An 18th-century wooden Baby Jesus figure from a French church is placed on a pedestal on the marble table.
A cane sofa, lace cloth, oval giltwood frame and wooden kitchen utensils at the brocante at Chatou.
This early 19th-century cane sofa has seen better days, but could be easily repaired by a skilled artisan. Check back daily for more brocante photos.
I love these kind of antiques , with patina , stories to tell and this sofa if I would have been there I would have bought there to put it in my BOUDOIR ...
Posted by: le petit cabinet de curiosites | 15 March 2008 at 11:31
Flea markets are the best! They are like treasure hunts :)
Hope you are feeling better Tara..
Posted by: Bhavna | 11 March 2008 at 12:33
Love the pictures again. My husband and I once went to a flea market in Paris 2 years ago, and it was so much fun to go through. Seeing these pictures makes me miss it!!
-Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Cottage Way of Life | 11 March 2008 at 08:19
OMG, how do you not go insane there? We just never have the opportunity to see truly immense amounts of wonderful old treasures here...we are just too new. Tell me you are going back to buy the puppet theatre.
Posted by: tangobaby | 11 March 2008 at 04:36
oh, I just love the cane sofa and lace blanket. Just beautiful!
Posted by: boliyou | 11 March 2008 at 03:45
All of it is great Tara.
I love the garden urn.
That love seat would soon be back to it's former glory, my father is an upholsterer!!
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 11 March 2008 at 03:18
I'll take that lovely garden urn, all the taupe linen chairs and both cane sette's...to go! Boy how I wish I were rich!! This is good motivation to start playing the lottery Tara!!!
Thanks
xoxo
Posted by: My Melange | 11 March 2008 at 02:21
Oh, my! Did you goinsane? I would have gone insane. Unbelievable, beautiful things.
Posted by: Jeanie | 11 March 2008 at 00:03
Oh how I would love that puppet theatre.
Posted by: Yoli | 10 March 2008 at 23:23
Well I guess you know what I think about the Puppets and theater!
Have a great night!
xox
Cosntance
Posted by: rochambeau | 10 March 2008 at 23:02
Now I know where I need to go to find old chairs to go with our table. ;)
hey! You were in my dream last night.
:)
Posted by: amber | 10 March 2008 at 21:09
I often make a visit to your website. like watching over your shoulder when you move from one antiquite et brocante to a other.
This time you managed to awake the restless spirit of the collector in me to take a look for myself over there.
My compliments.
Posted by: Jack | 10 March 2008 at 21:01
i LOVE the marbled madeleine, the mirror and the pillars and ofcourse the linen!! fabuleux!!
going to all those trouble and bad weather just to find out the market was closed :((
in the valley storm and rain as well!! very cold too! it seems winter starts all over again.
Posted by: marita | 10 March 2008 at 20:20
Who do you think would have taken that sofa? What a shame about the weather but as always you are a first class reporter.
Hey I have just realised - I am saving money and staying dry - no that made me feel no better :(
Posted by: Di Overton | 10 March 2008 at 20:04