Bermondsey Square Antiques Market may be the most fantastic place to shop ever! Or, at least, in the English-speaking world . . . This weekly market has been around since 1855. These are the things to keep in mind:
First, it's a dealers' market. It opens at 5:00am. The vendors start arriving around 4:00am. Get there early! This is the real "you snooze, you lose" market. It closes before 9:00am so shopkeepers can take their newly acquired finds to their shops to sell. Sure, there are the ordinary dust-catching tchotchkes you'd find anywhere, but there are also tables heaping with Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian antiques.
During my trip, I got up early, heated a cup of yesterday's coffee, hailed a cab and arrived as dealers were setting up. My jaw dropped when I saw a dealer pull milk carton crate after milk carton crate out from under his table and dump crate after crate of sterling silver on to the surface. Yowsa! Fantastic.
You'll find art of all kinds ~ oil paintings, watercolours, sketches, ephemera like sheet music, post cards, unframed etchings, theater tickets and programs, glassware, china, furniture, etc. If you'd find it in an antique store or second-hand shop, you'll see it first at the Bermondsey Square Antiques Market.
Listen to the voices. Dealers from all over the world cruise the aisles in search of treasure. And, to quote another, "it's a mecca for serious collectors."
Because, as you know, I'm traveling and on a budget, I look for small things; in this case, canister shaped demitasse cups. I love the eclectic look of several different patterns out for coffee or cocoa after dinner. It's fun to see how each is chosen. My friends all have personal favourites they always select.
While it is true, I love Portobello Road antique shopping, there is something very cool about getting up really early, throwing off your jammies, throwing on your clothes, and heading off to shop while it is still dark.
Talk about hidden treasure!
Day 24 Everyday Grateful ~ Ramses and I are going
for dinner at Barb's.
Misty morning. Sunny afternoon. Thankful.
No comments:
Post a Comment