a sunday in normandy

by Sharon Santoni

 

Life has been a little busy recently and it feels like ages since I had a lazy Sunday and the chance to hit a local brocante fair.     These casual country fairs may no longer be reliable as sources for antiques, but they are always enjoyable, especially when they take place in a field, or by a river, which was the case this morning.

house by river

Most of our local villages hold one or two of these fairs each year.  It is often organised by the village school as a fundraiser, or in aid of a local charity.    The atmosphere is always relaxed, and you can find just about anything from antique silver, to a rabbit hutch, to fishing rods or tableware.

The truth today is that if you are wanting to buy great antiques or brocante then you have to know where the good fairs are held.   The days of every small fair spilling over with paintings, baskets; textiles or furniture are more or less behind us, but it’s still worth turning up and hoping to find some treasure to carry home.

tableware for sale

Some excellent fairs still survive and I’m happy to make the drive further afield to those once or twice in the year, but in the meantime these smaller fairs nearby are still great fun.

Here are some things I spotted at the fair this morning, is there anything that would have tempted you?

And if the idea of sourcing antiques and brocante in the countryside of Normandy appeals to you, then you may like to know that I have had a cancellation on my Brocante tour that runs from 20th – 25th September, so there is now just one space available.   This will be the sixth edition of the tour, and as well as shopping at local dealers will also include a cooking class and a visit to a country fair and a big antiques fair in Paris.   For more details please feel welcome to email me here.

Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend, thank you for reading me!

 

26 comments

linda June 5, 2017 - 1:26 am

I love the old coffee grinders, the cup and saucer with the scalloped edges and the oil lamp with the blue base. Somehow I would have found a space in my carry-on to bring them home on the plane.

Linda

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Debra Sams June 5, 2017 - 1:28 am

I love all the beautiful photos! The coffee grinders really caught my eye. I have my great grandmother’s and it is a treasure. Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your posts.

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Susan Umberger June 5, 2017 - 1:29 am

I love the little gray painted table, and I’d figure out a way to bring it back! Thank you for the lovely pictures…

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Dottie monta June 5, 2017 - 1:37 am

Oh yes, plenty to tempt me (an Old World coffee grinder–hard to find here!)
Your photos of cornflowers and poppies are so, so appealing.
Love your little corner of the world!

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Willene June 5, 2017 - 1:54 am

The batchlor buttons & poppies are beautiful. I can’t grow them so I would really be tempted to “sneak a pick”. Of course, I would also want to shop. Lucky you!!!

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Dianne D June 5, 2017 - 2:20 am

I would have been interested in that construction game? Although it might have been too big for my suitcase.

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Marilyn June 5, 2017 - 2:20 am

I would have snapped up that scalloped teacup for sure.

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Monica June 5, 2017 - 2:37 am

Ah, poppies for remembrance. Remembering now how much I love the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ … and a country ride whilst they were all in bloom as well. Lovely photos … thanks for taking us along with you!

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Mildred June 5, 2017 - 2:54 am

Bachelor Buttons have a special childhood memory for me. I love them. If shopping I would have one of those scales, and that lie oil lamp.
Thank you for sharing your world.

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Elizabeth June 5, 2017 - 3:37 am

The teacup with the scalloped edges..Wondered if it were “Shelly”

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Karen June 5, 2017 - 4:07 am

I would have definitely checked on the maker of the tea cup and saucer to see if it were a “Shelly”, too! A coffee grinder might have also appealed if there were a small one.

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Elizabeth June 5, 2017 - 3:41 am

The picture of the field of “Poppies” reminded me of the poem “In Flanders Fields the poppies grow, between the crosses row and row…… Beautiful picture to use remembering November 11th……..

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Barbara June 5, 2017 - 3:59 am

Thank you for sharing, I would have liked the little scalloped tea cup for sure and that little basket of drawer pulls caught my eye. I am refinishing a dresser. Looked like a perfect Sunday!!

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Jeanie June 5, 2017 - 4:30 am

I love the oil lamps – probably would’ve bought every one of them as well as the antique iron.

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Botanic Bleu June 5, 2017 - 7:04 am

Sharon,
The first photo is like an impressionist painting… blue cornflowers in the golden field below a cloud-filled sky.

The local brocante may not have antiques, but the wares are fun to see.

Judith

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Tijen Köşetaş June 5, 2017 - 9:09 am

I wish I was there…

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Diana Blackwell June 5, 2017 - 12:12 pm

I love these pictures and the atmosphere they conjure up of French rural life. How lovely to have poppies and cornflowers, the cornflowers being the French flower for Remembrance. I have bought coffee grinders and old lamps plus old trousseau linen from Brocantes such as this and truly treasure these purchases.

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Sandra @ Maison De Jardin June 5, 2017 - 2:14 pm

Love all the photos. Especially enjoyed seeing the collection of coffee grinders. I feel fortunate to have one – I don’t see them too often for sale.

I so enjoy your blog and your posts.

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Roxane Lacroix June 5, 2017 - 2:52 pm

Lovely photos of cornflowers, poppies and the river! I would have snapped up the architectural blocks in a heartbeat! I Googled them and found the set on Etsy, which had already sold 🙁 and it was pretty amazing with several unique pieces like “stained glass” blocks, turned legs and a clock. Looks like you had a very enjoyable lazy Sunday morning! Thank you for sharing.

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Tina Lou Lang June 5, 2017 - 3:37 pm

Thank you for continuing to share! Love! Love! Love!

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Kathy Forehand June 5, 2017 - 5:43 pm

I would have bought the construction game for my 5 year old grandson…and kept the top of the box for myself to hang on my wall. Love it! Thanks so much for the beautiful tour! Happy Sunday!

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Shelagh June 5, 2017 - 8:43 pm

I have an old coffee grinder that I use for grinding black pepper, it has followed me from my first marriage and to my second marriage(24years) so the thing is 39 years old and works like a charm.

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Emm June 6, 2017 - 1:22 am

The coffee grinders are so elegant — functional, and with lovely lines. Much nicer than little plastic thingies. I like the idea of using one as a pepper grinder, too.

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Alina Tarmu June 6, 2017 - 4:41 pm

I would have bought a tea pot with matching cups and saucers, a coffee grinder (my grandmother had a similar one), and definitely the “Jeu de construction”… Plus, that river picture makes you dream…Such an enchanting blog. You are very inspiring. Thank you for sharing all this beauty.

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Colleen Taylor June 7, 2017 - 10:25 pm

What gorgeous photos Sharon! Those poppies & the little lavender blue flowers are breathtaking! X

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Erika Carter June 17, 2017 - 8:38 pm

Hi:
Love your blog. Always look forward to it.
Do you ship the boxes to Canada?
thank you.

Erika

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