FLEA YOUR MIND

HOW FLEA MARKETS GOT THEIR COOL

BY ZOE SETTLE

Growing up in the Eighties, I remember being my mom’s unhappy accomplice as she wandered through antiques markets and tag sales spending hours unearthing what I now consider to be some seriously good finds. Was this just a typical adolescent angst? Or was it the stark contrast of the dark, dinged up wood to the DayGlo, in-your-face designs of my pop-culture-infused life till then. More than likely, it was a case of timing. This was before Boho ever shared a sentence with Chic, pre-eBay and Craig’s List, and before there were cable channels like HGTV dedicated to our homes.
Antiquing and wandering through flea markets has been a pastime for generations, but these days, vintage seekers are everywhere. And, everyone who is anyone is flea marketing. Perhaps it’s the unstable economy, or maybe people are finally bored to death of outfitting their homes from the ubiquitous big-box stores, but, whatever

it is, flea markets are not only back, but entering a new age.
I suspect, too, its rising cool coincided with the hotness of the green movement, and the awareness afforded us by programs like the Antiques Roadshow, which told us we might just be sitting—literally—on a goldmine. Sure there’s always the pleasure of happening upon a chest of drawers you fall in love with, in a style you always said you hated. But now we have the possibility of a real profit added to the pursuit. In the best case, maybe an unrecognized (and therefore undervalued) masterpiece by Eileen Gray, whose Dragon chair, you may recall, fetched $28 million at Christie’s a couple of years ago? Best of all stocking up on antiques is a guilt-free way to buy because you’re potentially saving something from a landfill fate, and it just might be built to last. Perhaps you’ve heard, “They don’t make things like they used to.”

BRIGHT.BAZAAR’S WILL TAYLOR ON HOW TO FLEA

1) Get there early, before dawn if possible, or you’ll miss out on the best finds.

2) Take plenty of cash with you, even if you don’t plan on spending it all, as this will make you look like a serious buyer to sellers, which in turn means they are less likely to try and hike their prices as they’ll probably assume you know what things are worth.

3) Barter, barter and barter some more. Sellers expect it, so don’t be shy!

4) It sounds silly, but don’t wear uncomfortable shoes! Given the early start and inevitable hours of walking and standing around, the more comfortable you can be, the better.

WHERE TO FLEA

Brimfield, MA. In operation since 1959, it’s known as possibly the largest outdoor antiques show in the country. This May brought record attendance, which the July 12-17 and September 6-11 shows will try to match. Brimfieldshow.com.
Brooklyn Flea. Just three-years old, it operates every Saturday and Sunday in Fort Greene and Williamsburg, respectively, with about 140 vendors and 5,000 people attending each day. Brooklynflea.com.
Eastern Market, D.C. While its focus has been on food, on the weekends, this market yields handmade woodwork, art and antiques. Easternmarket-dc.org.
Golden Nugget, Lambertville , NJ. This show has been in operation year-round since 1967 on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and features 60 indoor shops and another 200 dealers outside. Gnmarket.com.
Cabot Mill Antiques, Brunswick, ME. Peruse 15,000 square feet in a beautifully restored textile mill. Open year-round, seven days a week. Cabotiques.com.
Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, New Milford, CT. This show dates from 1976 and operates, weather permitting most Sundays except in winter, and can draw up to 490 visitors. Etflea.com.

Further afield:
Copenhagen
will host its annual Antiques and International Coin Exchange next March 1-4. Perennial favorite flea markets in London (Spitalfields) and Paris (Clignancourt) are legendary for a reason. Check out Laure Vechère’s Antiquaires (Assouline; $75), a beautiful homage to Paris’ markets, whether or not a visit is in your future.