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[blank]When I told my mother I was going to shop all night at a fair this weekend, she thought I was crazy! And she may be right, but this my friends is just part of the fun of hunting for brocante. Not something I’d do every day, of course – certainly need more stamina ! – but still the thrill of the hunt was very real.[blank]
[blank]There are several fairs during the year here, where it is possible to start buying around 1 or 2 in the morning. The fair I was at this weekend took place in the centre of a town a couple of hours north from here. The town centre is closed down to traffic for the day, and vendors set themselves up on every available road and sidewalk. I drove up the afternoon before, checked into a hotel, enjoyed a nice meal with friends and went to bed for about 3 hours before hitting the streets, flash light in hand.
These fairs start anytime after midnight and go on all day long until about 6pm. You don’t have to start shopping in the dark, but the really unusual items will be sold in those first hours.
I walked for quite a few miles in the night and during the morning, but that was OK, I love to walk. Many buyers spend the first hours on bicycles, slipping from one street to the next to see what each truck will unpack.
So here are some photos of my few hours shopping. I took them for you! I thought you may like to have an idea of what it is like to shop with the pros, to see where the antiques that you find in your local malls have started out from.[blank]
[blank]I snapped pictures as I went, some in the dark and others once the sun rose to reveal a beautiful sunny day.
Tomorrow I’ll be telling you about my plans for the 2014 tours, including space in a container for bringing your treasure home.
If these pictures look like fun to you too, and you’d like to try your luck next year, then come back tomorrow for the information.
And if you want to see what I brought home with me, then keep scrolling down to the end of this rather long post !![blank]
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[blank]and finally, what did I come home with? ….
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well some of these …[blank]
[blank]and these …[blank]
[blank]and two of these …[blank]
[blank] and quite of few of these[blank]
[blank] and then these …[blank]
[blank]oh yes, and a couple more chairs …
hope you enjoyed it all![blank]
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33 comments
I love night markets.
Wow! This Brocante looks wonderful! I can hardly wait to see your 2014 schedule.
Hi..
oh ist das schööön!Ich liebe es!Bussi.Luciene.
Beautiful and interesting things for sale. I love the metal baby crib. (I think that's a baby crib?) Thank you for sharing!
I really like those hand painted tiles. Love to own them.
Oh, how beautiful! I adore that closet, really stunning!
Ana
What enticing photos! Though I don't think I'd be able to stay awake, there are some delightful treasures there! Hummmm, brocante hunting in France…sounds even better. I love the frames!
Can't wait to hear more about your 2014 schedule!
Nancy
Now that's my kind of all-nighter! Gorgeous photos, Sharon. Those tiles are just amazing! XO
Amazing post! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Manuela
As a certified night-owl, I'd love a sale like that. Beautiful armoire in your pictures, and I like the tureen second from the top in your finds. But where are Gibson and Ghetto?
Wow, that just boggles my mind! I wouldn't know where to start!
Never been shopping at night. That sounds like a blast.
All night in a brocante? Wonderful idea! Love the tureens you found. That armoire is stunning. Is that its original finish or has it been redone? (in the last 50 years?)
I whish I was there 🙂
talk about a different perspective -in the dark!!!
Okay…I wonder how much the Quimper dishes run???
A brocante tour with you could be deadly for my wallet! It would sure be fun, though, I would probably have to open a french store, afterwards!
So many wonderful treasures!! 🙂 I especially like the dishes – so thick and slightly crackly. Love them. 🙂
I especially loved the armoire! Choices, choices choices…I certainly would need lots of money…so many beautiful things and I like your choices too!
All quite amazing Sharon. I admire your dedication for this venture after dark. Seems like it would be quite exciting.
Love, love, love the idea of whizzing around town on a bicycle at night watching people unload treasures onto the cobblestones. My favorites are the chandeliers and the ornate gray marriage armoire. Thank you for your beautiful blog.
Sabrina
You did well Sharon, fabulous finds, as always. Loving the chair on the left in the bottom photo, nice and deep and wide for tall people, our kind of chair. xx
Une nuit très excitante et aux belles saveurs de l'autrefois…
I love the armoire. It would look fantastic in one of the houses I found while house hunting on my favorite website of properties for sale in France. Sigh…….. I'm only dreaming.
What fun, Sharon! One of my fondest memories of my late-twenties was when, while visiting a friend in New York City, she and I went on a "New York at Night" tour. I think we paid about 15 bucks at the time (the late 80's)…….started at midnight…..and we went to all of the places/businesses/markets that are frantically HOPPING while everyone else sleeps……the fish market, the flower market, etcetera…….all of which are simply closing down by the time most folks are drearily getting up at 7 am to begin their day.
I don't know who conceived of the tour,but it was fascinating and great fun.
—david terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Amazing….I never knew about the shopping at night!
Oh Sharon, I LOVE those French tiles in your pictures! And the tureens! I wish I had been there with you!
Oh to have that here. I lived in Munich this past summer and was amazed by all the different markets around just that city alone. Markets in large parking lots, neighborhoods, night markets, Girl's Night out Markets, Kids markets, (where the child sells their own wares). I would stay up all night shopping at a brocante any day over going to a silly Black Friday sale. Thank you for sharing, Sharon!
I own the plate with the bird in the middle!Had three of them in the store sold two and took the third home after no one bought it!Fun to see in your post!Looks like heaven to me!
That sounds insanely fun! What an adventure shopping in the middle of the night like that!, and i see so many beautiful things!
Cindy
Sharon what a fun weekend!
Oh My Gosh!!!! I am SOOOOOO jealous! Oh how I WISH they did this in America? All the fairs here sell complete junk!! LOL! What time of year do they do these??
Oh My Gosh!!!! I am SOOOOOO jealous! Oh how I WISH they did this in America? All the fairs here sell complete junk!! LOL! What time of year do they do these??
What do they call the all night brocante fairs in French? I've never seen this before??