I came back from the antique fairs sightly tattered. All I wanted to do was take a cool bath, have something to eat, and go to bed.

The moment I opened the refrigerator, I wanted to climb inside and shut the door. It was so wonderfully cool. Of course, I didn’t do it—but I did wish, for a moment, I were a corn on the cob so that I could hang out were i zzzcool.

Instead, I grabbed an eggplant, two handfuls of cherry tomatoes, some feta cheese, a couple of cloves of garlic, a handful of pine nuts, and some green beans.

I sliced the eggplant carefully, praying I wouldn’t slice a finger like I did last week. I drizzled both sides with olive oil and laid the slices in a baking dish. Then I chopped the cherry tomatoes and scattered them over the top, followed by the roughly chopped garlic. Another drizzle of olive oil, a handful of pine nuts, and, as always, salt and pepper made their appearance. Finally, I crumbled feta over everything and popped the dish into a 200°C oven.

While it baked, I steamed the green beans. I like them with a bit of crunch.

Then I dashed upstairs for a quick bath, washed my hair, came back down, and sat down to a lovely meal.

That’s the joy of cooking-  a few fresh ingredients and can turn a meal into a comforting and delicious holiday.

               

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Forty years ago, I attended my first international antique fair in France. I was amazed then, and I still am today. There are thousands upon thousands of beautiful objects to admire. It remains my favorite place to be.

This is not a fair for the general public. It is open only to professional antique dealers, and everything about it is fast, expensive, competitive, and exciting. This year, it was exceptionally hot, which only added to the intensity.

The fair officially opens at eight o’clock in the morning, but experienced buyers know they need to be there by seven. By then, nearly a thousand people are already waiting in line for the gates to open.

The dealers with stands have spent the previous day setting up inside the exhibition halls, carefully arranging their displays. Outside, hundreds of other dealers wait to go to their trucks, ready race to unload the moment the gates open. Alongside them stand buyers from all over the world, everyone impatiently watching the clock.

Then, at exactly eight o’clock, the gates open—and chaos begins.

The outside dealers race to their trucks to unload. Buyers sprint through the halls trying to reach their favorite stands before anyone else. It’s an incredible sight.

An antique dealer that I know who has a stand at the fair. She had spent the entire previous day creating a beautiful display. She told me that by the time she reached her stand that morning, buyers were already there. Forty people were crowded around, each holding arm loads from her stand completely dismantling everything she had so carefully arranged.

Even with three people working the stand, they couldn’t keep up with the speed of the buying. That’s just how quickly business happens. Tempers sometimes flare, competition is fierce, and everyone wants to find the next great piece before someone else does. Most deals are made in the first hour.

Everything is paid for in cash.

Anything purchased must be removed that same day, creating another remarkable spectacle. Hundreds of transporters arrive with trucks, vans, dollies, and hand carts. Porters push enormous loads across the exhibition halls, and across the roads carefully transporting furniture, paintings, sculptures, chandeliers, and countless other antiques back to waiting trucks. From there, everything is packed and shipped to destinations around the world.

The fair attracts buyers and sellers from everywhere—Italy, Spain, Belgium, England, the United States, and many other countries. It is truly an international marketplace.

People often assume that because so many overseas buyers attend, there must be bargains to be found. The antiques purchased here are often pieces that simply cannot be found in their home countries. By the time they are transported overseas, packed into containers, shipped, unpacked, and sold, the original purchase price must be tripled just to break even. That means these buyers have knowledgeable clients who appreciate exceptional antiques and are willing to pay for them.

The experience, the energy, and the beauty of thousands upon thousands of remarkable objects gathered in one place. Even after forty years, I still walk through those doors with the same sense of amazement I felt the very first time.

                

Comments

• Oh my! I would still be in love with it after all these years ... by Marilyn Miller
• Wow! For serious buyers only. What did you buy? by Ann of Avondale
• I feel the same way Cory!! I get excited with each group you ... by Cynthia Thompson
• So much great stuff. I loved this post. I could feel the ... by Diogenes
• .I am truly stunned by the. Sheer amount of 'stuff' ' there. ... by Susanawee
• AMAZING….i hope Yann goes with you as a bodyguard 😀 by Texas Francophile

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What do you prefer a Michelin star restaurant are going to the Brocante?

A shopping spree at an Haut Couture shop, or a shopping spree at a Brocante?

Croissants, or the brocante?

On a very hot day, going to the beach, such as the Mediterranean, or going to a brocante?

Having front row seats at any of concert of your choice, or go into a Brocante?

Here is an easy one/ bungee cord jumping— that’s no-brainer- I know what I would choose.

Jewelry or the brocante?

Chocolaté, or the brocante?

The list could go on…

What would be better than going to the brocante in France?

                

Comments

• Nothing is better than the brocante! How super lovely! But ... by Marilyn Miller
• Brocante……plus crossaints! But I need an airfare and some ... by Leonie
• In reply to Diogenes. Am I attempting you to come to France? by Corey
• In reply to NancyO. ❤️ by Corey
• In reply to Ali. Ah! by Corey
• In reply to Susanawee. That is possible 😉 by Corey

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Provence, usually provokes colors of blue and yellow, lace curtains, shuttered windows, sidewalk cafés, and all of that is true- until you see the underlines of green.

                

Comments

• In reply to Leonie. ❤️ by Corey
• Lovely comment by Beth. So many shades of green, so cooling. by Leonie
• In reply to Beth Schultz. Thank you so much for saying that!!! by Corey
• In reply to Marilyn Miller. Kindred spirits ! by Corey
• I love the greens or spring and summer. And then there are my ... by Marilyn Miller
• The bottom painting reminds me of you and Annie! by Beth Schultz

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