Antiquaires: Paris Flea Markets

Flea markets are a weekend ritual for many people.  One of the biggest regrets that Stefan and I have about our trip to Paris is that we did not make it to the legendary les puces.  When we do finally make the trip, we will have a wonderful guide in Antiquaires: Paris Flea Markets by Laure Verchere.  You would expect to find antiques like Louis XVI chairs but the Paris flea markets also offer mid-century pieces and modern art.  You just have to find the right antiquaire as illustrated in the beautiful photos from Laziz Hamani.  The book also highlights the famous faces who frequented the stalls for inspiration including Madeleine Castaing, Coco Chanel, and Rudolf Nureyev.  I think I'm going to have to head downtown and I can see what I can find at the garage flea market. Happy hunting to those of you doing the same!

Photos by Laziz Hamani

Fabulous Flea Market Finds

Thank you so much for all the sweet Anniversary comments and emails! Some of you suggested that I go out and buy myself a little something and I was happy to oblige! I had a meeting yesterday morning that was conveniently close to the flea market where I bought myself a few treasures all of which cost less than the costume jewelry at J.Crew or Banana Republic. Happy Anniversary to me!

Weekend Finds

Everyone keeps asking me about the Domino sale so here is the scoop. I got up early and my friend Lori and I cabbed it downtown and got on line at 9:00am. At that time the line wasn't too bad but I heard later that it wrapped around the block. We were met by Stefan Hurray who writes the blog Architect Design, his friend Eric, my friend Jessica and man about town this weekend, David Jimenez. Before the doors opened at 10:00am, we were told the upstairs floor had the more expensive items but decided to check it out anyway which is where I found the pair of Asian cups and saucers. It's hard to tell but they are gold rimmed and look old. I made sure they weren't something from Pearl River before I bought them and they have a very cool pattern in the middle that might be my inspiration for a future HC logo. I also bought a cropped black Chaiken jacket upstairs.

Chase Booth and his vintage megaphone announcing the rule for the Domino sale.

Downstairs was the free for all floor of madness! I think most people grabbed stuff and then decided if they wanted it. I snagged the painting in the gilt frame with linen mat above for $40. There were a lot of bolts of fabric, throw pillows and covers in addition to decorative items, books and lamps. David Jimenez snagged a great curtain panel that he's going to make into pillows. We also ran into Tori Mellott and got to catch up with her. It was a bit crazy and none of needed any of the things we bought but it was fun and now we have other reminders of Domino besides are coveted back issues of the magazine.

Waiting patiently in line. Thank goodness it wasn't raining!

After lunch, everyone dispersed so Stefan and I took a walk through the West Village where we stumbled on the Perry Street flea market. The Perry Street flea market is a sort of urban legend. You can never tell what weekend it will be there and you can't find any information online. What's really funny is that I was just about to tell Stefan about the my favorite Carstens drip glaze vase (model 550-16) I found at the Perry Street flea market a few years ago when I looked down and saw the same exact vase! I can't believe I found another one in the same place and I am very excited to have a matching pair! You just never know when it's going to be your lucky day!

Flea Market Finds

Between the time change and a busy weekend, I got a late start Sunday but I decided to stop by the Antiques Garage on 25th Street anyway. The early bird may get the worm but the late bird gets the bargains! I found some really great things including a first edition of Colour in my Garden by Louise Beebe Wilder from 1918 with beautiful color plates of her garden, and large first editions of Van Gogh and the Paintings of Rembrandt for $5 each. They were actually from the booth were I found the fabulous Greek Key china but they were packing up early so they will be the first place I hit next week!

I love checking out all the costume jewelry and am always picking up long gold necklaces. The first one with the disks was only $10. Then I found another long gold chain necklace with two decorative accents on each side for $7. The chain is notched and matches the chain of a necklace I found at the Brooklyn Flea with turquoise disks. I also collect drip glaze pottery so I found a slightly ugly but pretty to me vase to add to my collection. It is marked 745 on the bottom and a little internet research revealed that it is a Brush-McCoy Pottery Onyx Bud Vase c. 1910-1930.

My favorite find was the Chinese blue and white lidded pot. I was told it was 19th-century and appears to be old but who knows if they were truthful. My research found that it is called a Kamcheng jar with lion dog (fu) finial and was used to store food. If anyone has any additional information, please feel free to share.

I went to the flea market to look for props for an up coming photo shoot and the Van Gogh and Rembrandt books will be perfect but it looks like I will have to go back next week to more objects for styling. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to hear all about it!