Finding Beauty in Forgotten Things: Our Latest Antique Market Finds

Last Sunday, we woke up to the sound of rain pattering against the windows. Perfect antique hunting weather, we decided! Armed with umbrellas and our trusty wagon, we headed to the monthly antique market on the edge of town.

The first treasure we found was a stunning brass table lamp, probably from the 1920s. It was tarnished and the wiring was shot, but the bones were perfect—elegant curves, intricate detail work, and a weight that told you it was quality. For 35 euros, it was coming home with us.

Three stalls down, tucked under a tarp to protect from the drizzle, was a pair of teak chairs. The seller said they were Danish, probably 1960s. The upholstery was tired, but the wood was in beautiful condition. We negotiated for both chairs and a matching footstool.

The best find, though, was almost missed. At the back of one stall, half-hidden behind boxes, was an old painter's easel. Solid oak, probably turn of the century, with beautiful joinery and a patina that only a hundred years of use can create. The dealer barely remembered having it and let it go for a song.

Now the lamp sits in our living room, newly rewired and polished to a warm glow. The chairs are with our upholsterer, soon to be reborn with new fabric. And the easel? That's in my studio, holding my reference photos while I throw pots.

There's something special about giving these forgotten objects a new life, a new purpose. They carry stories we'll never fully know, but we get to add our own chapter.