the all night brocante fair and a good loot shoot!

by Sharon Santoni
[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]

[blank]
[blank]
[blank]
[blank]
[blank]
[blank]
[blank]

 

[blank]

[blank]
[blank]and finally, what did I come home with? ….
[blank]
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]
[blank]

33 comments

Magnolia Verandah October 7, 2013 - 1:47 pm

I love night markets.

Reply
Niki October 7, 2013 - 1:51 pm

Wow! This Brocante looks wonderful! I can hardly wait to see your 2014 schedule.

Reply
Tretswelt October 7, 2013 - 2:36 pm

Hi..
oh ist das schööön!Ich liebe es!Bussi.Luciene.

Reply
Lynda Bergman Decorative Artisan October 7, 2013 - 2:59 pm

Beautiful and interesting things for sale. I love the metal baby crib. (I think that's a baby crib?) Thank you for sharing!

Reply
Jane Aston October 7, 2013 - 3:38 pm

I really like those hand painted tiles. Love to own them.

Reply
Anonymous October 7, 2013 - 3:54 pm

Oh, how beautiful! I adore that closet, really stunning!

Ana

Reply
Wild Oak Designs October 7, 2013 - 5:05 pm

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

Reply
I Dream Of October 7, 2013 - 5:27 pm

Now that's my kind of all-nighter! Gorgeous photos, Sharon. Those tiles are just amazing! XO

Reply
manuela carvalho October 7, 2013 - 6:18 pm

Amazing post! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Manuela

Reply
Emm October 7, 2013 - 6:31 pm

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?

Reply
Karen L. Bates October 7, 2013 - 6:34 pm

Wow, that just boggles my mind! I wouldn't know where to start!

Reply
donna baker October 7, 2013 - 6:38 pm

Never been shopping at night. That sounds like a blast.

Reply
Lorrie October 7, 2013 - 8:11 pm

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?)

Reply
Mor Inger`s hus October 7, 2013 - 8:11 pm

I whish I was there 🙂

Reply
ArchitectDesign™ October 7, 2013 - 9:01 pm

talk about a different perspective -in the dark!!!

Reply
Mary October 7, 2013 - 10:57 pm

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!

Reply
Rambling Tart October 8, 2013 - 4:42 am

So many wonderful treasures!! 🙂 I especially like the dishes – so thick and slightly crackly. Love them. 🙂

Reply
The Blue Farmhouse October 8, 2013 - 5:01 am

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!

Reply
Colleen Taylor October 8, 2013 - 6:36 am

All quite amazing Sharon. I admire your dedication for this venture after dark. Seems like it would be quite exciting.

Reply
Anonymous October 8, 2013 - 6:50 am

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

Reply
Jeanne Henriques October 8, 2013 - 7:01 am

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

Reply
martinealison October 8, 2013 - 7:16 am

Une nuit très excitante et aux belles saveurs de l'autrefois…

Reply
Debbie October 8, 2013 - 9:32 am

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.

Reply
david terry October 8, 2013 - 12:18 pm

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

Reply
Shabbyfufu October 8, 2013 - 2:34 pm

Amazing….I never knew about the shopping at night!

Reply
Rita Key October 8, 2013 - 3:07 pm

Oh Sharon, I LOVE those French tiles in your pictures! And the tureens! I wish I had been there with you!

Reply
Kimberly Collins October 8, 2013 - 3:26 pm

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!

Reply
La Contessa October 8, 2013 - 5:58 pm

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!

Reply
Cindy October 9, 2013 - 8:26 pm

That sounds insanely fun! What an adventure shopping in the middle of the night like that!, and i see so many beautiful things!

Cindy

Reply
Sarah Malone, European Farmhouse Charm October 11, 2013 - 4:38 pm

Sharon what a fun weekend!

Reply
n October 13, 2013 - 9:13 pm

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??

Reply
n October 13, 2013 - 9:16 pm

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??

Reply
MJ October 16, 2013 - 5:13 pm

What do they call the all night brocante fairs in French? I've never seen this before??

Reply

Leave a Comment