I’ve been antiquing for over 35 years in France.
People say, create a business from your passion. I was lucky. I did.
Living here makes it easy, the feeling is the same every time. When we get close to a fair or a shop, I feel my spirit jump out of the car before my body catches up. That spark hasn’t left. I used to go at the crack of dawn, literally. Now I know there will always be something. And if there isn’t, that’s fine too because I live in the land of old stuff.
At a brocante or antique fairs you’ll find everything. Rustic pieces. 18th-century furniture. Elaborate gilded and ornate objects. Religious antiques. Textiles. Paintings. Lighting. Silver, pottery, mirrors. I’m drawn to painted furniture, 18th century- and those of you who read my blog know I like things that aren’t perfect. I want to see the history. The wear. The life. Otherwise, I might as well buy a reproduction, because they are damn good, not « real » but gives the look.
Over the years my taste has changed. Or maybe it hasn’t changed, I just see things differently. After seeing thousands of antiques and buying for many different clients, homes, and companies, my eye has widened. Most of the time I’m buying for others—what they love, what they ask me to search for. Because of that, my appreciation has deepened, and our home shows the influence of my work- bit of everything, every where
Lately I find myself drawn to pieces from other cultures such as Asian. African. They light a fire in me. I know very little, but I’m learning by asking. That’s the thing about antiques. If you want to know more, ask questions. Read books. Go to museums. Dive in. It’s wonderful. History opens up.
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is part of that story. The largest antiques center outside of Paris. If you are in Provence and have limited time to go antiquing Isle sur la Sorgue is where to go. It has a wide variety and the town is charming.
Yesterday was cold. They said it was going to be freezing, so many people didn’t pop out of bed early. A lot came later and found the day was actually quite nice. I was bundled up like I was going to North Pole.
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