June 19, 2011

Normandy Finds

We woke up in the bed & breakfast where we always stay outside Chartres to be greeted by Tino, the donkey, who’s as affectionate as a lab. After a breakfast of homemade jams, croissants, and French coffee, we set out again determined to find a great selection of antiques, without the hiccups of yesterday.

Our first stop was very successful, with a dozen finds.

A Restauration period side table with Saint Anne marble top, c. 1815-1830

A bistro table with iron base and wooden top....

...with the name of the maker in Paris.

Pair of large hand forged iron sconces. 42" H

Eighteenth century Louis XVI period table with single drawer. Hand carved oak.

Louis XV style painted counter from a 1930's shop. Ideal as a bar.

Nineteenth century porcelain dish. Ideal as a soap dish.

Large eighteenth century artisan-made farm table converted into a coffee table.

Seventeenth century Louis XIII period cabinet. Great as a night stand.

Nineteenth century Louis XV burled walnut armoire. Beautiful wood and the perfect size for a house with eight foot ceilings

Next, we met with a 78 year old man who has been collecting his whole life. He now has box after box of exquisite things that he is ready to part with.

Louis-Philippe period rosewood perfume box, c. 1830-1848.

Exquisite bronze and ormolu clock from the Restauration period, c. 1815-1830. In perfect working order.

Pair of Napoleon III period bronze candle sconces.

Hand carved Black Forest cachepot.

Exquisitely hand carved walnut armchair with rams' heads. Nineteenth century.

Our last appointment was with two brothers who always have some unexpected pieces tucked away in their stables. They just finished reconstructing this 150 year old barn using all the original techniques after disassembling it at a nearby property beam by beam, peg by peg.

For dinner, we went to Nogent le Roi, a nearby village rich with centuries old buildings typical of the Normandy region. Colombage refers to the traditional building technique of beams laid into exterior stucco walls.