A beautiful antique sculpture......

at least at first glance it was, and this was even despite the fact I'd picked up the heavy sculpture and noticed one of four feet on the base was partially missing. The sculpture seemed to stand solidly and the missing piece was at the rear and out of sight,  perfect for some shabby chic home decor and surely a real talking point..............

Now, this true story is certainly not an example of my normal buying experiences, so rest assured about the quality of my stock - I only list my best items and certainly mention any imperfections a customer should be aware of. Thankfully the experience I'm about to share is rare, although every dealer has them occasionally though are perhaps not as loose with their metaphorical tongue as yours truly.  Even from moi, you normally wouldn't get to see such an item as the one your eye/eyes will see in the photos above and below - it would be quickly vanquished to the back of my cupboard and never offered for sale. This piece of course won't be available, unless that is, someone contacts me on this blog and can't live without it........

So, on with the story - the venue was quite a way from home (like most fairs and markets) which meant a long drive with my hand-written directions scrawled on the back of an old envelope (remember, the cigarette lighter doesn't work in my car so my Sat-Nav doesn't re-charge) and as it's dark at 6 am, I had to keep stopping to turn on the map light and read my scrawled directions - it sounds like hard work already, doesn't it?  
I got lost a couple of times but nothing major which was good because it's rare to see another human being in rural France especially at this hour, and rarer still to find one that understands my mix of English and entry-level French.  

Arriving at the venue I saw the sculpture almost straight away, sitting on a table outside one of only a handful of stalls in a predominantly indoor antique fair; I sort of knew I'd be taking it home one way or another and hurried over as if drawn by a magnet. After a much too brief an examination (you see, other dealers were silently gliding around the venue like 'land sharks' out for a much needed meal) I bartered for the sculpture using its missing foot as a reason for knocking a few euros off their asking price - to be honest the dealer seemed honest-to-God surprised when I pointed out the 'slight damage' and maybe this was genuine - maybe not.   

Anyway, I thought, as I made away with my bargain tucked safely away in plastic Bricolage bag, excited to get home and check it out in more depth - I've paid a fair price and this is going to look fab-u-lous displayed in my shop! This time I've really arrived!

So, back home in among my other purchased treasures of the day, I took a look at the sculpture. Okay, you've done very well and it's a great-looking sculpture; the dealer who sold it to you obviously didn't appreciate a piece of art when they saw it! 

Ah, yes - very moving - a young woman looking anxiously out to sea, a life preserver in hand, ready to throw to a fishing vessel that has hit the rocks spewing out its crew, perhaps her husband, a lover, or who knows........Yes indeed,  this is a sculpture with dramatic presence and it's seemingly well sculpted too.  The title plate reads, 'Anxiety' and it's even been signed - Yes! I have myself a lovely piece here - ye-haaaa! 

I then noticed the anxious woman's hand had some movement which was disappointing, but not wanting it to fall off I asked a chap in the village to solder it in place. Okay then, so now I still had a great sculpture, all very dramatic and everything, albeit with a missing foot to the base and a repair to the poor woman's hand (which later turned out to soldered on back to front!). 

A few days later, still congratulating myself although admittedly somewhat sullied, I decided to photograph the sculpture and noticed yet another small crack and some play (now please choose a few choice expletives from your vocabulary which is no doubt cleaner than my own). Okay, so I now had a damaged foot to the base, a soldered hand (on back to front), a rather too weathered finish, and a lovely crack that joins this already poor, anxious woman to her base - will it never end for her! 

The thing is, I love this piece, despite the many imperfections she's picked up over many, many years of being anxious. Would I buy her again if I could turn back the clock?  Maybe, as she's still charming to my eyes and could surely tell a few good stories but then again, maybe not, as I now have an up-cycling project on my hands and she's become a keeper - no good when I'm trying to earn a living.

Why would I share such a story with strangers? Well, one reason is to explain that buying and selling vintage (especially if you live in a remote area of France) is not the romantic notion many have in their minds.  Sure, your 9 to 5 office job may seem boring, but there's a pay cheque at the end of the month and some sort of stability. The business I'm involved in is very hit and miss and there are times when you live well below the poverty line - this is fact, at least from my experience. 

Another reason for sharing this story is - laughing at one's own mistake can take the sting out of losing money, so enjoy my mistake and learn to look over an item carefully before buying it - don't let your heart rule your head! 

A few new pieces.............

It's been a busy January and early Feb, but thankfully things have quietened down so I can catch up with blogging while also hunting out new stock for my Etsy shop. And talking of seeking new stock, since my lost post I've been out on the road visiting an indoor market on the outskirts of the beautiful coastal town of La Rochelle, and last weekend an antique fair and two markets where I successfully returned with a car full of items, not to mention a fuel tank dangerously low on juice! As a side note, an economical diesel van is much needed to carry my shabby chic home decor to fairs, but I'll talk more about this part of my business in another post and also give you some examples of my work...........

Anyway, I digress - so on to the good stuff and just a few of my many finds! This is a beautiful antique oil painting I found last week. I just love this piece which now currently resides on my own wall, so I won't be sad if it doesn't sell. Believe me when I tell you that the photos don't do this painting justice. You can see more pics of it on my shop HERE.

SOLD

And here's a super '30s/'40s clock with matching garnitures which I confess, I bought purely for home decor only to be pleasantly surprised to return home and actually find the clock still works. Okay, so I do have a box of spares so did consider replacing the stained clock face, but as it was original to this piece I couldn't bring myself to sully its history. Oh, and I know, I know - one garniture is back to front in the photo...........................(see more of it on my shop HERE.)  

SOLD

This attractive coloured glass vase was just crying out to be taken home so into my bag it jumped (after Id paid for it, of course.......). When placed in front of some lighting it really comes to life as you can see in the photo below. I've gained a real fondness for pieces like this so no doubt I'll search out some more.  If you like, see more of it HERE.

SOLD

A beautiful wooden stool with a floral carving illustration to the top; this piece is in remarkably great condition. See it on my Etsy store HERE

SOLD

I'll save the rest of my finds for another post which gives me the chance to take some decent photos when the storm calms down - it's been blowing a literal gale here today.

Another new year: 2016

So, as I move forward while running my little business and living life in rural France, last year is already becoming a distant memory - and good riddance! No, I'm only joking of course, well at least for the most part anyway. However, we can always do better so 2016 is going to be my year, it really is! I have all my resolutions firmly in mind and a new one-year plan, which really isn't as ominous as it sounds............

As 2015's Christmas decorations are soon to come down, here are a few pics.

Above: I believe a Christmas atmosphere, or any type of atmosphere for that matter, can be successfully and easily created with lighting.....Below: a somewhat cooler festive photo, this time showing some of my tureens (available on my Etsy shop) and a beautiful 1930s soda siphon which I'll be keeping. 

Unlike this time last January I am prepared and have plenty of stock, so shopping is not an issue for the time being.  Below is a large French copper planter I've just listed on my Etsy shop - and what a beauty it is!

A large and beautiful copper planter available from my Etsy shop

The lion handles are a great feature on this super French copper planter.

Then there's this wonderful old majolica plate featuring..........I think it's Joan of Arc but I'll have to check. It even comes with a very old plate hanger, which although not recommended as they can cause damage to old plates such as this, has been left on as it was original to this particular piece.

Soon available on my Etsy store...........

You can see the age on this piece and the hanger is rather rustic-looking!

As for the January weather in my part of the world, the last couple of days have been rainy, windy and dull which is a shame as it was unusually mild and pleasant right up until Christmas. Today's miserable climate means that staying indoors and feeling bored is par for the course! Despite having many things I could be doing, this type of weather generally throws a damp duvet over my normally creative mood. 

It's a cat's life!

Even my cat Harvey is out for the count, although I suspect he's enjoying his in-time far more than yours truly. 

Right then, I think that now is the perfect time to wish anyone reading this post a Happy and Healthy 2016; I'll also give you a glimpse of the summer days I look forward to once again experiencing (and sharing on this blog)...........

Life on a Lily pad must be divine...........

A romantic sunset...........

Until next time..................

The face of time - French and German vintage alarm clocks

My favourite items to purchase are clocks, and this season I noticed a definite decline in selection compared to 2013/14; it's interesting to note that prices have also increased significantly (for the nicer pieces that is....) which means leaving some of them behind. The good news is, it's of course still possible to find some exciting clocks if you look hard enough.   Below are some examples of clocks I've had in my Etsy store stock, many of which now reside in new homes.

When buying a clock it's very easy to get carried away and be blinded by its looks (isn't that true of everything in life?!). It may seem obvious, but when making your purchase it's also important to assure all the knobs and buttons are present - it's very easy to get over-excited and sometimes overlook a serious defect (.......don't ask me how I know!).  

Now, if you're a collector/restorer, having a stock of spares is a good idea, so providing you don't over-pay, a missing knob needn't put you off buying a clock, as many of the simple components are standard in design.  Luckily, you don't need to worry when it comes to buying any of my stock as they're always inspected, tested and complete (.....unless of course, otherwise stated). 

Again, obvious as it may seem, it's also a good idea when hunting for clocks to make sure they actually work - I've always made it routine to ignore the seller telling me what a lovely clock I'm looking at, and check it out for myself.  Amazingly, some of the clocks I've found are 60 plus years old and while not having been treated with particular care by their previous owners, have luckily all been working. You'll find old alarm clocks need winding up every day, sometimes twice, but that's the charm of a vintage clock.    

Condition and styles are varied and you'll find most vintage alarm clocks come with their dings, dents and scratches, not to mention a variety of shapes, sizes, colours - some people like them almost perfect while others prefer a shabby piece;  although my clocks are thoroughly cleaned, and boy do they need it, they all still wear their original paint, some being shabby chic while others are more refined.    

Not an alarm clock, but a very nice example of an original early 20th century tole clock in full working order. See it in my Etsy shop

So, whether you're a fan of art deco, 40s utilitarian,  mid-century, or 70s funkiness, it's all out there (or my shop) for you to find!

Merry Christmas!

I say it every year, but I really can't believe it's Christmas already! However, it really is just two days away so the tree is up and the decorations are abound. This year it's going to be a quiet one but no doubt I'll be doing something to do with vintage, even if only photographing new stock.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! 

The Great Vintage/Antique Hunt

During the flea market season days normally begin early, and that’s 5 am early! Maybe that’s not so early for many people but believe me when I tell you, I’m so not a morning person.... 

With the window shutters closed and my bedroom in total darkness I’m blissfully unaware of anything, as is the loudly-snoring cat weighing down my legs under the duvet. Therefore it's up to one of many vintage alarm clocks to wake me for the day’s hunting adventure - luckily they're all reliable old friends.

First off I try to gently slip my legs from under the sleeping cat and fail - this means he’s fully awake and hungry, as are the rest of his furry tribe (6 cats in total). 

Okay, I'll deal with them first, so I reluctantly stumble out from under my duvet, wash up, grub-up les chats, and voila - before you know it I’m on my way to the hunt!  

The cat that weighs down my bed - heavy but adorable!

Now, it's important that you understand the cigarette lighter in my car doesn’t work, which doesn’t matter to me much because I gave up smoking years ago...... But hang-on, the sat-nav won’t re-charge without it! 

So, despite vowing to repair it every cold, dark morning it's needed and unavailable, some how it later manages to slip my mind until once again I’m reading hastily scrawled directions from the back of an old shopping receipt. Not to worry though, so far I’ve always managed to find my way to the fairs and markets, even if I do end up arriving somewhat later than planned. 

A bad photo of an event I visited last summer.

Upon finding a place to park, the panic tends to set in, especially as I notice people walking by with baroque-style antique mirrors, oil paintings of anonymous but important-looking figures, or maybe some other, unidentified object tucked proudly under their arms. With plastic supermarkets bags bulging in my pockets and keen Euros in my wallet, I walk hastily toward the stalls resisting the temptation to break into a sprint. It looks like a good one today - the excitement is building; what treasure am I about to discover?!

One of my good finds, although there is a catch - I'll explain in another post.

You mustn’t be fooled by these markets or fairs, even the ones in deepest rural France – the locale might be picturesque but the competition can be fierce and the bartering ruthless.  Whether the event is held in a summer field, a winter's day car park, or in the quaint streets of a normally sleepy village, you're normally going to meet the same hardcore collectors and dealers unless you venture further afield. 

After a while you tend to recognise most of them although I’ve not struck up any meaning relationships as of yet. That being said I occasionally receive a nod of recognition or even the odd, ‘Bonjour’.  You just never know, my future wife might be somewhere in among the crowd of shoppers.............

The hunt for me is mostly methodical, as that’s just the type of person I am.  I normally begin at what I consider to be the beginning of the stalls and start scanning each one furtively before moving onto the next.  You see, I believe the key is to first carry out a brief reconnaissance (mentally noting any items of interest worthy for later examination), while of course immediately purchasing any obvious treasures that you can’t bear losing to the nosy so-and-so who's been looking over your shoulder, greedily eyeing up that Napoleonic-era pediment. 

There have been countless times when uncertain as to whether to take the plunge with an item, I’ve put it back on the table to have a think only to have it rudely snapped up by some dealer lurking ‘in the wings’. 

But anyway, so where was I – Oh yes, so after the initial recon exercise is over and my must-have items are gratifyingly filling my plastic bags, I deposit them back at the car and return ready for action once again, only this time more prepared as I have a mental list of possible purchases thanks to the earlier recce. 

Also, having already grabbed some exciting items I can now take my time perusing the stalls from the beginning, but this time without so much of a panic.  At this time all is normally good in the world, everything being more enjoyable and a distinct feeling of calm comes over me. Okay, so maybe later I’ll get home to discover the boo-boos I’ve made, but at this point I’m blissfully ignorant to the coffee jug missing its filter, the missing piece from an antique chess set hastily purchased so the man wearing those silly 3/4 length shorts didn’t get it before me.

But - all good hunts have to come to an end so when it’s time for home, my legs normally feel heavy from the hours of walking back and forth while my stomach grumbles because I was too stingy to buy myself a cheese baguette. If the hunt’s gone well I'll drive home singing along to tunes belted out by my MP3 while feeling rather too smug, and if it wasn’t I’ll go home cursing the fact I’ve burned up a tank of fuel only to be soaked in rain.

Oh well, as the French say, 'C'est la vie!'

Introduction

Well, I've finally decided to begin a blog, a diary of my vintage buying escapades here in south west France, and hopefully share the stunning scenery I see, the items I discover, and any other experiences that interest me along the way.

Beginning a 'job' such buying and selling vintage items, like any job, is fun, frustrating, and sometimes depressing, and more often than not provides experiences that embody nearly every aspect of one's life whether it be the physical hunt itself, or the clutter that surrounds any and every flat space of the home; it takes some getting used to, especially for this once minimalist-loving individual.  This being said, I'm grateful for the knowledge gained, the interesting people I meet, and the very cool items I manage get my paws on!

So, not wanting to bore myself or anyone else with my very first post, I give you my succinct introduction to my new blog, a journal if you will, of an expatriate living in France and trying to make ends meet with my micro-business called: La Bonne Vie 72