Textile treasure trove

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

We left early, and missed the correct exit on the autoroute finally arriving three hours deep into the belly of a beautiful gorge  in the Cevennes. A few weeks prior I had been invited to come to the home and warehouse of one of my favourite brocante dealers. The chance to step inside the real world of an antique textile collector was much too tempting to turn up and so we set a date and brought our French muse invitees on an adventure.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Our host houses her vast 30 years in the making collection of antique & vintage textiles collection - appropriately you might say -  in an old factory that once made silk stockings in the early 1900s. 

You couldn't get more off the beaten track and we were all giddy with anticipation at the heavy promise of textile gold.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

I stepped through the door of her atelier and literally felt my head spin. Boxes upon boxes overflowed with pattern; 8ft high folded piles of antique piqué reminded of the most sumptuous millefeuille pastry, one blanket more beautiful than the next.

Everyone's head was spinning.

When there is no apparent order to the glorious contents of hundreds of boxes it is overwhelming to know where to start.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

I couldn't talk, I had to just focus on one box at a time.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Pattern but also silver and gold, and buttons, and lace, and millinery flowers, and thread....hold on I can't concentrate.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

So much beauty, slices of happiness in each handful.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

An assortment of Autumn inspired patterned antique textiles that have been pulled out for a more seasonal stock at the flea market.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

...but of course I forgot I also found some steel beads and jet embellishments

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

...and an incredible Aubusson tapestry belt that alas was too expensive for me to take home

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

...I did take these beauties home though, silk embroidered panels and 1920s art deco lamp beading fringe

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

...and this deliciously moth eaten 1800s indigo piquée - pretty much devoured but achingly beautiful - Sold!

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

It was exhausting, happy work and we were glad when a plate of fresh French pastries was presented - and swiftly demolished - especially those crispy caramelised almond bits - they didn't stand a chance!

Sacristains and Palmier - trop bon!

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Tiny cardboard boxes filled with dress remnants, tulle and glass beads.

Sold!

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Altar silk and bobbin lace - oh yes - we'll take that - MERCI!

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Patterns from the 1800s right up until the 1990s

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Our friend who has touched & traded the most incredible textiles over the last 30 years shared her private collection with us. What makes her heart sing and which items will she never part with? Anciens 'Blouses' - workers clothes such as these trousers... Turn them inside out and behold a tapestry of mending stitches, layers of history and a tangible link to the human story behind a garment

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

The initalled monogram surrounding the 'coeur de la Vendee' which has been hand stitched into the back of an indigo wool cape from 1790's, worn by a Vendean Rebel, The War in the Vendée (1793 to 1796; Guerre de Vendée) was an uprising in the Vendée region of France during the French Revolution. Our host found this in an abandoned caravan and had to soak and soak and soak it until it came clean.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

She also shared photographs of her all time favourite items - such as these darned pairs of knee socks.

The French Muse experience antique textile brocante
The French Muse experience antique textile brocante

Unforgettable, emotional and something for every textile taste, a happy day of discovery indeed!