Naomi Bulger: messages in bottles

 
 
Picture
"Le marché aux puces, Porte de Clignancourt", Luigi Loir (1845-1916). Oil on canvas.

Reason #612 why I need an apartment in Paris: so that I will have a place to put all the amazing and ridiculously cheap finds at Paris' several marchés aux puces (flea markets). 

I need space, par example, for that antique typewriter; that gloriously carved and upholstered chair; that ancient Turkish lantern; those three concertina cameras; that tarnished, silver tea set; and that sweet little watercolour by a little known artist from La Belle Époque.

However, finding myself somewhat wanting in the Parisian apartment department (give me time), I have had to make do with these small mementos.
Items in this picture that came from the flea markets: 

* A beautiful, tall antique bottle
* Another antique bottle, this one a heavenly dark blue
* Four antique postcards (later, I'll try to translate the messages)
* A lovely, rusty old key. I wonder what it once opened
* Three unused antique postcards, to send to friends
* A little book on French history
* Antique Queen Elizabeth tin 
* A colourful woven basket (not pictured because it was too big)

And some other reasons why my bag was so heavy: 

* A hand painted Christmas bauble from Paris
* Little glass bird, found in Carcassonne
* Reproduction of an ancient map of Venice
* A fantastically trashy and touristy Rome mug
* A Venetian mask (the girls bought us one each for my birthday party)
* Two tiny vials of perfume from Grasse
* A glass Christmas bauble from Murano, Venice (Santa driving a gondola)
* Glass candy, also from Murano
* Sweet little purse depicting Marie Antoinette fashion
* A flipbook with a romantic Paris street scene
* Flower stickers 
* Leftover stamps, since the kids didn't send as many postcards as expected
* Three watercolours from an artist in Monmartre, and another two from Venice
* Novels The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and The Lady and the Little Fox Fur, and children's picture book Paris Y Es Tu? (too big to be pictured)
* A wonderful notebook with vibrant squares of Pantone colour
* Piece of handmade Venetian lace
* Shoulder bag from my favourite bookstore EVER, Shakespeare & Co (Paris)

 


Comments

Brandi {not your average ordinary}

10/17/2011 21:20:36

I can't even imagine a flea market in Paris -- it would probably only confirm that I'd died and gone to heaven. Maybe what we need to do is get a group of bloggers together and chip in to buy an apartment in Paris and then we could all use it like a time share...

 

Annette Gendler

10/17/2011 21:44:52

I love it that you still have some leftover French stamps! I'm still carrying Metro tickets in my wallet in the hopes to be able to use them again soon. (It's been more than two years already...)

 

Patricia Sands

10/17/2011 22:10:09

I second Brandi's suggestion about the bloggers' Paris apartment. Quelle bonne idée! You obviously found some treasures!

 

Angela Wallace

10/17/2011 22:48:53

I like the mask and rusty old key. *grin*

 

Naomi Bulger

10/18/2011 02:29:59

Brandi that is a brilliant idea! Imagine all the wonderful things that would fill the apartment, as each of us stayed and bought beautiful things that were too big or heavy to be shipped home. It would become a treasure-trove of goodness.

 

Shannon of ** Happiness Is...**

10/18/2011 12:40:34

Count me in on the Parisian timeshare! ;) Some great vintage goodies here. xo

 

Jillian Dodd

10/18/2011 15:40:57

These are gorgeous. What a great time you must have had!!

 

Tameri Etherton

10/18/2011 23:27:37

What amazing treasures you found! Love, love, love them all.

I'm in for the Paris apartment! Ooooh, wouldn't it be lovely to write in a chic little room above a cafe? And to be surrounded by all our exquisite little finds.

Thanks for sharing your flea market goodies with us!

 



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