Hunting for Treasures in the Périgord

 

Brocanté!

Almost everything on display last night came from brocantés

Today was St. Cyprien's turn to hold their weekly market, and it was also their once-a-month Brocanté.  Brocantés are both antique shops (unclear why they're brocantés and not antiques since antique is a French word, but I digress) as well as events showcasing many vendors of vintage items.  My lovely dinner hosts last night alerted me to this opportunity.  

And I gained an hour, so bonus!

A magical setting for dessert

From last night's description, it seemed it would be nearly impossible to fail to find my way to this event but as I inched into St. Cyprien, it became instantly obvious that their weekly market was in a different class from ours, clearly drawing people far and wide.  I was fairly convinced I would have to forego the whole thing because I was never going to get to a place I might even hope to park before getting creamed by some car or truck in the hillside streets the width of suburban US sidewalks.

But, I did.  Half the fun of doing these things is exploring and walking and that's good because I walked and explored quite a bit before I had to admit that I was not seeing an obvious procession to the elusive Salle des Fête where this gig was being held.  The regular Sunday market was not dissimilar to navigating Pike Place Market on a Saturday afternoon and I wasn't spotting people carrying precious antiques in their arms.  

Vintage hand tools

So, I asked.  Gathered enough information from his kind and helpful directions, and set off.  And, yes, once I was in the general area, it unfolded before me.

It is fascinating to see what people collect and sell, isn't it?  The French here in Perigord are into tableware.  Big time.  Silver, glassware, sets of china, crystal - rows and rows of crystal and stemware.  My hosts last night have an entire armoire filled with stemware.  Their biggest decision of the evening was what to bring out for the dinner.

Hitting these Brocantés, and the shops, and the community "garage sales" held monthly here in the village in the summer is a great way to see into what's valued and precious, what the legacies are.  One of the aspects of this region that emerges over time is that these folks embrace the future but cherish and preserve their past as well.  My daughter amassed a shocking amount (over 70 lbs!!) of 100-300 year old hand tools still in working order.  And still actually, practically, useful.  Planers, drills, that's the extent of my expertise - but, amazing.

I didn't find the things I'm on a search for, except for a small wool rug, and that's just fine.  Just means I need to suss out when the next Brocanté is and keeping dropping by Claude's to see what's new.

Rug!