You know how everyone who has lived in/been to/heard of Paris sings the mighty praises of its flea markets? While that's mostly a load of crap, because Parisian dealers are not stupid and will not give you valuable antiques for, say, 2 euros, there are exceptions. Today Katie and I went to the Marché aux Puces de Clingancourt. First finds: a beautiful 1930's Bakelite necklace and a 1860's shellac hair pin. The store I bought them in just opened today, lucky enough, and the two men who own the shop were so pleased to see us that they spent quite a while talking to us about the various types of plastics used in antique jewelry, using books to fill in where my broken French failed us. Lots of fun. Their website is www.les2collectionneurs.com, if you would like to see their beautiful things. But soft, what is this in Stall 34? It's a mid-19th century lacquered sewing box in beautiful condition. I loved it even before I saw this:
Yes, indeed, those are my initials engraved on the lid. How JEALOUS are you right now?So now I, too, get to sing the (somewhat more reasoned) song of the flea-market-lovers, because I have my very own treasure to bring back. Or rather, to bring to my new home in Chicago. I don't know where I'll be living, but I assure you that the sewing box will look perfect there.
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