A vintage birdcage and garden furniture are on display at the brocante and ham fair currently underway at Ile de la Chatou, near Paris.
Vintage handmade puppets.
The rather maniacal puppet at left reminds me of the shameful Republican antics currently threatening a government shutdown. The Party of No seems determined that millions of uninsured Americans won't gain access to affordable healthcare. Having failed 43 times to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act, the divided party's ignorant and extremist faction is holding the government hostage - in defiance of the president, reason and simple human decency. If we "follow the money," it would appear the GOP's corporate puppet masters are worried about falling profit margins - once reasonably-priced health insurance becomes accessible to all Americans. (Who's the puppet? Who's the master? Racing headlong towards disaster.)
Onwards to a more pleasant topic: traditional French garden gnomes and an assortment of porcelain and enamelware cafe au lait bowls and other kitchenalia.
Elegant zinc weathervanes that once topped grand chateaus. I have two similar ones (and an urn-shaped zinc beauty was transformed into a lamp).
The brocante continues daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Chatou. Get your tickets at the gate. And don't forget to try Chatou's famous ham for lunch (and you can take ham and other regional favourites home with you). Stop by to say hello to my friend Blandine Bavoux at 8 rue de la Gaite. Her booth is bursting with fantastic kitchen collectibles. But if you can't get to Chatou in person, you can shop online at Blandine's Jolietrouvaille.
Take the train (ReR1 - direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye) to Chatou Croissy or Rueil Malmaison. Then follow the signs a few blocks to Ile de la Chatou. Bring cash and don't buy anything you can't carry - or arrange to be delivered to you in Paris. Most taxis at the train station won't take passengers to Paris - and if they do, it's an expensive ride! Best to take the train or arrange a car hire for the day. Hope you enjoy browsing one of France's best - and oldest - brocantes!
What a gorgeous tea set in the past picture. Oh the memories and how I would love to travel there again.
Posted by: Marilyn | 09 October 2013 at 01:41
Are you here????? We are going today
Posted by: Martha Ann | 01 October 2013 at 08:39
Oh, what happiness. Did you know that during my theatre career I was rather enamoured and somewhat involved in puppetry? I admire that tradition so much! (Your political comment made me laugh -- you are right about that fellow on the left!) And how I would love to do this brocante with you -- I would have never known those were cafe au lait bowls!
Posted by: jeanie | 30 September 2013 at 21:40
Your photos are lovely...and needless to say...I am charmed by the gnomes. (You also provided some well needed levity today.)
Feeling somewhat discouraged. (I would have preferred single payer. The ACA is seriously flawed.) Nevertheless, is a law and the Party of No is treating it like a bill that needs to be passed and so many people are so misinformed. The administration has done a poor job of explaining the ACA. There is so much meanness of spirit and craziness going on...tiresome, negative, and discouraging. I cannot understand why anyone would want to deny health care services to anybody...or diminish funds for food stamps...or simply not care about the well being of the human race. Call me "quaint."
Posted by: Helen | 30 September 2013 at 20:57