Saturday 12 July 2014

Bargain hunting for Quimper and other treasures.............................


We're in the middle of a holiday weekend here in France, Monday is Bastille Day and many towns and villages in Calvados and Manche are holding antiques/brocante fairs, my local paper has pages and pages full of listings.


It's the summertime when everyone becomes a chineur (bargain hunter) enjoying the search for a vintage treasure or veritable antique piece.
On Friday we headed for one of the more upmarket antique fairs taking place over 4 days in the impossibly pretty village of Beuvron en Auge, in the heart of the Pays d'Auge and slap bang on the cider route of Normandy.


A longtime favourite with locals and tourists alike it has stunningly beautiful architecture, great restaurants and shopping.

statement chairs ?
I took masses of photographs around the village but this post is dedicated to chineurs everywhere, on y va!
I may have to go back for some of these as I've just spotted the embroidered SP in the bottom left.
These might just inspire the Senior Partner to help with the dishes!
Before we entered the chapiteau where the antique items were to be found I mooched around outside among the brocanteurs.


I'm on the lookout for a handmade wooden tuffet/stool (tabouret) after falling in love with the one in the sitting room of Button Cottage, our digs when visiting Derbyshire, UK in May.


Loved the look of this vintage enameled railway sign, a quirky display piece for any outdoor space such as a patio or hanging on the wall of your potting shed.


Great looking bench, table and chairs to place beside the potager, weary gardeners do need to rest from time to time.



Inside the tent I stopped to admire this beautiful display of Christofle and Lalique items.


Did you notice the sweet little pots au chocolat in the corner, bottom left? The vendor was willing to split the set which I thought was a shame, each pot was priced at 35 euro.



Beautiful serving platters, bowls, candlesticks, knife rests and so much flatware, what a feast for the eyes.
Turning a corner we were delighted to come across a longtime dealer acquaintance of ours, he once was our "go to" man when searching out exquisite Porquier Beau, HB and HR, Quimper faience.


The green on yellow acanthus/rinceaux border on this Porquier Beau jardiniere is a particular favourite of mine.


I'm quite partial to the green on white, too!


The detail on this large footed compote dish is exquisite, a classic Porquier Beau piece from the late 1800's.


Before heading back home the SP walked Mamselle Fleur down by the river whilst I went after one last shot, or three!


Beuvron en Auge, a picture postcard village with it's beautiful half timbered houses, one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

à bientôt


9 comments:

  1. How much fun! I would love to have followed in your footsteps. I like the chairs because we don't have them in Texas. xo Jenny

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  2. You know I love Quimper, so I would have loved to be on that hunt. But then, I would even without that! How I would love to visit some good old fashioned French brocantes/vides greniers again. You see such different things abroad; better quality, I think. Certainly these photos seem to indicate that! And what a setting. Have a lovely holiday!

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  3. I'm another one who would love to have tagged along with you. All the physical charms of the rugged northwest are wonderful, but there are days when I long for a ramble along just such a street as you've shown. Thank you for the vicarious experience!

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  4. Oh my! I'm sooooo jealous! All that gorgeousness.. next year I'm going to book a trip to enjoy it all.

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  5. Oh Maggie, how wonderful! Love the bench, table and chairs and all the crystal, china, etc. Did you bring those wonderful Porquier Beau pieces home with you? I saw your post on Face Book, then came right to your blog.
    Hope you are both doing well.

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  6. Maggie, your beautiful images took me back to the fun day we shared shopping in Bayeux. The faience pieces are beauties for sure. Did one of these follow you home? Thanks for taking us along. Made my Sunday!
    Enjoy the holiday weekend.

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  7. I would have loved to be there with you - and the chocolate pots might have jumped into my shopping bag!!!

    Glad you have lovely weather for treasure hunting and Bastille Day celebrations.

    Hugs - Mary

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  8. Oh my goodness, there are so many things I love in these photos, good job I was not there, I would have spent far too much!

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  9. I keep dreaming of the day when we'll get to France again and I'll visit a brocante. Those linens caught my eye, and the chocolate pots. Lovely to wander through the village with you.

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!