I did stop at Vic le Compte the next day. Of the ten antiquaires Teddy has mentioned only two remained, and both these were closed. The phone number of one them was painted on the door of his shop but he was away for the day his wife said. She suggested I phone the other […]
Gilli has been travelling to France for the last 19 years – on the road in search of objects of use and beauty to nourish the eye and the heart. Country antiques, primarily from France, but also Spain, Italy and Sweden. Fruitwoods, elm and oak as well as original paint finishes, or respectfully restored with […]
A mercury foxed mirror sitting in a frame decorated with 19th century blue hand blocked striped wallpaper. The panelled back boards are original. 109 cm high x 108 cm wide x 20.5 cm wide. £1,800.
Beautiful detailing to this commode made by Michaud Freres et Fils of Moulins. Three small drawers over one wide drawer. Working lock and key to smallest drawer. 75 cm high x 87 cm wide x 43.5 cm deep. Pretty in a sitting room or bedroom. SOLD.
Oil on board, signed Victor Dolphyn. 1909 – 1992. Atmospheric tonal colours, mounted in a heavy gilt frame. Price £850. https://www.lorfordsantiques.com/20-th-century-still-life-of-a-basket-of-fish-wd7525683
I’d booked a basic hotel in a town not very far from Bagnoles, near a vide-grenier early the following morning. The hotel proprietor had called to say she would be unexpectedly absent that night, so would I mind letting myself in. She regretted that her restaurant would be closed but informed me there was a […]
A slate sign poked out from an old watering can, indicating the little brocante boutique at the chambre d’hote. I rifled out a couple of glorious white soupieres, some pots, a watercolour of a large pig and some beautifully pristine monogrammed sheets. On the tag was written “TBE” which, I learned, stood for “tres bon état”, very good condition. […]
The weekend of 14th July normally offers rich pickings at vide greniers in towns and villages across France. Tricolour flags fly and the boom boom boom of smartly marching bands can be heard streets away. With the regular monthly market at Montsoreau falling on such a weekend a trip was planned down to the Loire. […]
The Deballage began at 8h and, as always, amongst clouds of bubble wrap and old newspaper were the stallholders unpacking their boxes and setting up, whilst others had already settled down for the morning, coffee in hand. There were handshakes or kisses on cheeks, the day was bright and fresh, and spirits were good. Lesley […]
What should have been a three minute hop to the Chartres deballage next morning was a choked up traffic jam. The main entrance of the Parc des Expositions was closed and only a small secondary gate was open. Impatience mounted and vans began driving along the verge and straddling a steep bank. Other people shouldered […]
A trip was planned with Lesley, who had made me so welcome in the stunning shop in Tetbury after the fire at Station Mill Antiques. We would travel in convoy. From Le Havre we drove along the north bank of the Seine as it meandered towards the sea. We crossed at the Pont de Brotonne, […]
The car park at the budget hotel near the Parc des Expositions in Chartres filled steadily with vans and tourist coaches. Across the way in the adjacent hotel people met over an aperitif. Most were dealers. The words that rose above general murmur of conversation were ….. “deballage”, “marchand”, “client”, “debarrasser une maison”, “cave” and […]
South on long ribbony roads, through towns of half-timbered houses in plains of green fields, trees in blossom, towards the tower of La Madeleine at Verneuil on the horizon. The chambre d’hotes was stunning. Set back behind tall iron gates painted a pale coppery bluey green. The owner, Domi, served fresh apple juice out on the […]
Unexpectedly, travel plans changed for a March trip. The big yellow ferry that had done service between Le Havre and Portsmouth for many years was being taken out of service. There would be no crossings the day I had booked as a new vessel was brought in, so I travelled a day earlier. I could […]
On Saturday, 16th May 2015 Eridge Park and house, just south of Tunbridge Wells, will be hosting the 10th Decorative Living Fair with an array of marquees as well as stands in the house. I will be in the gallery of smaller marquees – hope to see you there. Eridge Park, Eridge Green, Kent TN3 […]
These console tables come from a team of museum-quality restorers who adapt old pieces to give them new life. The ochre and green finish is stunning. 109 cm wide at the back/ 72 cm wide at the front x 53.5 cm deep x 77 cm high. Price: £1595 for the pair.
Standing on the balcony I realised I was gazing into the Dufy painting of the Baie des Anges – same turquoise sea, same curve in the bay, same ardent palm trees, same Hotel Negresco that had ushered Marlene, Salvador, Grace and Satchmo through its opulent doors. Colour, colour, colour. My blanched, be-wintered spirit was stunned […]
These two large, heavy samovars (similar but not a pair) would have probably done service in an hotel. A pot of strong brewed tea was kept warm on the top and hot water added from the samovar. (Turkish tea needs stewing for at least twenty minutes.) A funnel inside transmits heat from charcoals beneath up through […]
The Bath Decorative Antiques Fair is on 6th to 8th March this year, 11am to 5pm. The Pavilion, Bath BA2 4EU www.bathdecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk. I will have a stand there for the first time – so please come and say hello if you can make it.
The hotel lobby on the outskirts of Le Mans was busy with dealers who were regulars at the Deballage. Laetitia, the receptionist, handled their jocular high spirits with seasoned aplomb. The hotel restaurant was passable, and a dinner of steak frites, Tarte Normande and a glass of red wine worked restorative wonders. Next morning the […]
The truck in front of me on the old National 23 from Chartres to Le Mans braked hard and swung off down a track. As I sailed by I glimpsed a large building with Antiquités Brocante painted in large letters. “Zut!” I turned around at the next hamlet. A weeping willow dangled in the sweeping water […]
Tricky as quicksilver, the year has all but slipped through our fingers. We can’t “tuck time under the bed, fix him tight inside a red satin box or string him like pearls”* but on a mid-winter night we might sit quiet in candlelight, gaze at gold and velvet baubles on the tree, and recall the spirit of those […]
Been having some technical hiccups, so apologies for no updates in the past week or so. Hopefully all resolved. Meanwhile, the stand at Station Mill is full of lovely items for Christmas – ceramics, table linens, wine glasses, pictures, candlesticks, pewter ware, bundles of books, lace, 18th century notary documents.
It was a dismal morning, not yet light. The parking areas of the Parc des Expositions were full of muddy ruts. Vans were all over the place, backing up, wheels spinning. There were shouts and waving torches. No one could see much through rainy windows. Having reversed out of the scrum I found a spot […]
