Brocantes, Vide Greniers and Marche aux Puces!

By any name in French - brocante, vide grenier or march aux puces -  it all means the same to me...the thrill of the hunt!  A big part of our day in France is chasing down the dealers who specialize in collecting the history and craft of the countryside of France.  A small brocante sign with an arrow pointing to the right may mean a 5 minute jaunt down the road or an hour drive into the countryside in search of the next sign.  Sometimes we drive so far, one of us gives up patience before the rest and we have to check ourselves to see if we really are on a wild goose chase....or not!  If we are lucky enough to find the destination, we usually find gold!
Typically, I take a walk around and get a good look at everything - and I mean everything,  I look under tarps, I open doors and check drawers...I may even look out back behind the shop.  I usually spot something as I am walking in - but that is never the first thing I ask about - in fact I may even leave it for he very last minute, after I have found everything else that I may want...then I casually ask - "Oh yeah, and how much for the...what is that anyway...yeah - the 17th century invoice book? "  By that point, the dealer is either charmed that you like all of the old dusty buts, or tired of you asking so many questions.
Very often in France, if you have purchased enough from one dealer, they will throw in "un cadeau" a gift - and if you are lucky - the piece you most wanted may just be un cadeau!  I think French dealers must get such a kick out of the junk we are collecting - half the time they are probably happy we are taking it off their hands!  Here's a small peek into some of the treasures that made it home with us....many to be seen next month in our Found in France Collection at frenchgeneral.com