Roman Artifacts at the Brocante

(Photo: A Roman ring seen at the French brocante last weekend.)

The French brocante offers more than disregarded dusty old things from someone's attic, and it offers more than hopeful boxes of disheveled, could-be treasures. The French brocante is not just a place to find unbeatable prices or the chance to find a Picasso. It is a living museum with touch-able history, where you can be the digger in an archaeological site, and best of all, it can be taken home.

French Husband and I met a dealer who specialized in Roman artifacts. The dealer has been collecting for years, and he started selling not so long ago. His stand was full of rare, interesting pieces. He freely shared his knowledge and stories. I felt like a sponge, soaking up every word. I think I must have asked two thousand questions, mostly: "What is this?"

(Photo: A Roman coin found at the brocante last year.)

I must admit I usually spend most of my time looking for things that speak in muted color romance, old things that have more than their fair share of age, and brocante items that have little monetary value but rather tell a story, depict a feeling. I guess you could say I am a sucker for worn beauty 

Old coins, especially Roman artifacts, the dealer at the brocante told me, are often found in fields, where Roman roads traversed he mentioned that when a field has recently been toiled bits and pieces from the past are brought to the surface.

Driving home, I thought about the poppy fields soon to be with new insight. Battles fought, lives lost, bits and pieces of  unknown stories, and memories, buried within, unearthed over time giving us a key to the past... and red poppies bloom.

 

Comments

[Kathie B]

I still treasure my memory of you, Farmboy Husband and I walking down a 2,000-year-old Roman road during our visit. Not that I'd enjoyed reading parts of Caesar's Gallic Wars in high school, but this brought it to life.

[Jeanne]

Thank you for all you share with us.
Blessings

[TracyH]

Amazing. America is just a baby when you think about it. Keep digging!

[Mary W]

On one visit to France, my husband purchased a Roman coin. We were amazed that they were readily being sold at the brochante. The dealer was very knowledgeable and eager to share with us. This was also the trip where we started our ongoing search for all things Roman.