The Episode In Which I Buy The Dressing Table

Call me crazy but I decided to buy this dressing table. Somewhere in my head, I think I was imagining that it was some fabulous Louis XIV antique.

I started the day by going to about 4 furniture stores filled with modern crap that I would have to put together. I did find a very simple bamboo dresser for 75 euro that would have worked perfectly. I figured that I would check out the antique place down the road and come back and get the dresser if I didn't find anything.

The antique place was like a consignment shop with many antique vendors. The antiques here, in Europe, are fascinating to me. I wish I had a better knowledge.

I walked into this little side shop. The man was so nice. You see him here in the beige...No English Spoken! He showed me quite a few pieces until I saw this old dressing table with it's back to me. It opens out to reveal a mirror that moves back and forth, sleeves that pull out and unfold out. It's a very busy little piece...

He said it was 30 or 40 years old, but I think older. It was well made. He pointed out the workmanship to me. 

How much, I ask in French....50 euro. WHAT? He held up the palm of his had and drew our 50...I said, Really? and he said yes, 50 euro...whoooshhh, hand movements out the door.

Sold! 

So then we needed to find knobs for it. There is an old 3rd Generation store in Old Nice that is jammed packed full of knobs and other old hardware things. Can't wait to go there. My friend went to find someone who spoke English to explain this part. After asking about 20 people, people that were having lunch at a plastic cafe set up in front of a restaurant truck, ( he managed to scarf some fries off one man's plate) he finally found an old British guy with bright blue eyes. The Brit looked at me and gave me a "Hi!" as opposed to the usual formal French greeting. He helped explain and find the address of the hardware store in Nice. That will be another story.

Next, we had to get the dresser into my car. It took the 4 of us to figure out how to get it into my car. 

We managed to fit it in after a few attempts.

My new friend was helping me with my French, and correcting me, just the way I like. He had some interesting things. I shook his hand ( which always shocks men) and told him that I would come back another day.

Now that I have it here...it's not ideal. It's too big and the drawers are only for small things...so I still need a dresser.

Also, one foot is cut off, so it does not stand correctly., It also needs to be fixed a little , re nailed on the left side. 

It's Ok though, It was the experience that was important to me. I learned a few new words. I made a new friend.