NICE - Cote d'Azur

Marche a la Brocante. Anne Neree specializes in antique fabrics and among her treasures I found these exquisite white and blue striped, jacquard, hand woven pieces of fabric from the 1880's. They are typical of the Basque region of France. When a young woman was betrothed in the 19th Century, weavers would come to the house with their looms and weave the hemp and linen grown in the backyard for her trousseau. The smaller and finer pieces in linen, would be used as napkins or towels, whereas the longer and heavier pieces in hemp, would be used as runners down the table. These runners not only served as "tablecloths" but also as napkins, especially during the wine picking season when the pickers would clean and dry their hands on them. Should you ever come across a white with red stripes, grab it as the red ones is very rare.

Anne Neree +33 (0) 493530699 - Marche a la Brocante; Cours Saleya - every Monday from 6am to 6pm.