Treasure Hunting

Before moving to Belgium we'd been told by many who'd been lucky enough to be stationed overseas that the antiques in Belgium are phenomenal.  While I appreciate antiques, and love new furniture that is made to look antique (Restoration Hardware and such), real antiques have kind of given me the willies.  I don't know why...my dream as a child was to be Laura Ingalls, and if that wasn't possible, because let's face it, it's not, than I at least wanted to be Amish.  Since that wasn't really possible either, I proposed to my parents when I was about nine years old and we were living in Pennsylvania for a few short years, that I could be an Amish exchange student for a year.  I guess that didn't fly with them because it never happened, and I had to be content with weekend drives to stalk the Amish in their buggies.  Back to Belgium though, before we moved people would throw out ideas for all the things we needed to do here...words such as "troc" or "Tongeren" or "brocante".  I listened but only a little, as my mind was on bigger and more important things, like where and when will we travel, and will we live within walking distance of a chocolate shop?  Well, now that we are settled, we are finding that Belgium really is a giant treasure trove for all things old and collectible.  Just for fun, since we really don't need much, we packed up the family wagon and headed up to Waterloo on Sunday as we'd heard from some very well-informed folks that they had a wonderful brocante...in very English Waterloo this is called simply, a flea market.  Doesn't sound so fancy now does it?  

Here is a bit of what we saw...

Knick knack paddy-whacks.

Stamps from a printer of some kind

Chocolate molds.  Brian pointed out the boy in top right of picture is doing the Belgian Pee Stance.  That's another blog entry!

Hooks, doorknobs and other fun hardware.

The red stool called my name.  Too cute to pass up.  While looking through the wall hangings from what I guess was a seed company, we found we quite liked the old coffee table below. 

Why didn't I notice that wooden basket before?  Perhaps the tiny clock was a distraction?  It would make a stylish stuff-holder.

This is just so darn pretty!  And why didn't I notice those trunks on the left?

Sewing machines. 

Our scores.  I am so, so hoping that table does not contain lead paint.  The picture does not do it justice!

The kids had so much fun here too, and it was a great learning experience in culture, math and the French language.  Brian and I really talked this place up, telling them the night before that we'd be waking them up really early to go on a treasure hunt (now I know why Kate kept asking about a map), where they could find really old, shiny things, perhaps even weapons from a war long ago or beautiful jewels.  Score!!!  They were so darn excited!  We gave them each 5 euro to spend, and told them be sure they really loved it before buying it, and to never settle for the original price.  They practiced their French, learned to barter and use euro, and had a great time in doing so.  The stuff they bought was of course questionable and junky, (two tiny porcelain bunnies appearing to be high-fiving each other?  A tiny gold fork?  We did put a stop to the medal that was awarded to someone by the Plastic Surgery Association of Belgium in 1974 much to Sam's dismay), but they were happy for the most part.  We did have one who was pretty upset that the Legos he wanted, which I am guessing were circa 1983 were purchased by some other what he perceived to be very lucky kid.  A visit to the Waterloo Battlefield and a new plastic dagger made it all good. 

On a related note, my neighbor and I went to check out a "troc" the other day.  This is where all the old stuff goes when it is no longer wanted.  It's a giant warehouse filled with furniture, many, many of which are antiques, from the 1700s all the way to the 1980s.  A very wide variety in there, and it reeks of that old stuff smell.  There were some beautiful pieces of furniture and the prices I thought had to be a joke.  There is no way we are leaving Belgium without antiques!  I am converted!  I really thought they forgot to add zeroes to a lot of these price tags, but no, they are just that reasonable.  I left empty-handed but obsessing over two items...one an odd, primitive looking baby bassinet?  Food trough for cows?  I couldn't tell, but the wood was beautiful and the shape so simple but yet so unique.  It turns out it's a bread-kneading station from the early 1800s.  It would be so fun to have in the kitchen,  or a great spot to dump piles and piles of magazines and papers!  We will see if it's still around next week.  Item two...a kitchen table.  The number one thing I want to bring back to the States is a real, genuine, hunky farmhouse table.  I'm finding there are a variety out there, but this one really caught my eye.  Big, beautiful, and a gorgeous, creamy white painted wood.  The thing is solid, too, and I could not figure out why on earth it was only 199 euros.  Yesterday I was looking at the Pottery Barn catalog while waiting for the kids at the bus stop, and I found this...

Yes, yours for only $1499 from Pottery Barn.  Nearly the identical table that is in the Troc.  I was all set to head down there today to purchase it, because let's face it, if it's in Pottery Barn it must be cool, right?  Ugh, gag, really though I can't help but love their ideas, but something made me wonder about this piece, about why it's so cheap, is it authentic, and if it's not, do I really care, because again, we have plenty of not-authentic Pottery Barn things...and it hit me...LEAD PAINT.  Yep, sure enough, the table is "leaded".  Darn that lead paint, it really is a beautiful finish!  Oh well, the search will continue.  It's too early in the game now anyway, right?  The hunt is half the fun!