Nice: Browsing Through the Treasures of the Antique Market
Our team explored the weekly antique market of Saleya in Nice. Keep reading for what we’ve unearthed! Photo credits, in order of appearance, to Jen Adams for image 1, Lauren Marquez for image 2, and Melissa Lee for the final two images.
Market overview by Melissa Lee: Once a week, on Mondays, the bustling Cours Saleya transforms its streets into an outdoor antique market, attracting both locals and tourist alike. Located in the promenade neighborhood of Nice, tents are set up in single file rows, which are flanked by restaurants and bars offering a wide variety of food and beverages and souvenir shops. The market begins the business of selling its treasures at a sleepy 6:00 am in the morning, which is the best time to arrive and avoid the mobs of tourist in search of a great deal. The men and women that own the stands are in many cases just as eccentric as the antiques they sell. They vigilantly arrange their assorted goods on tables or on brilliantly vintage rugs under the protection of the shaded tents. There is a little something for everyone, unique art and miniature statues, wrought iron candleholders, silverware sets begging to be polished and restore to their original glory, over flowing cases of costume jewelry, rare and valuable books, delicate tea cups and saucers, eclectic chairs and furniture, elegantly painted vases, architectural salvage, exquisitely detailed mirrors, bizarre collectable figurines, old-fashioned dolls and wooden toys and vintage cameras and typewriters. With so many incredible things to see, it is recommend that you take your time and find out the amazing history behind your favorite pieces.
Caitlyn Dabbs finds that sunlight can be an aid while shopping: The sun rays were beating on the jewelry making the shoppers notice every cut and stone in each of the pieces. There were fabrics, some rough and some soft like a babies bottom, but something to satisfy everyone’s taste. I personally bought a long, gold chained necklace with an oval shape locket at the end. On one side of this gold locket are perfectly placed tan, pink, purple, and green stones. If one flips the locket over, they will find a small watch, that is broken, but it adds a special touch to the piece.
Jameka Bassette is flooded by family memories: One stop was a booth with antique coins and it flooded my memory of how my grandfather used to collect old coins. Other things that caught my eye were all the antique paintings and how different art was in the past. Traveling futher down the market there were many antique china and flatware. I began to appreciate how my grandmothers keep all there china and how they will soon pass it down to me.
Kayla McCaig on artists and magical objects: I met an artist who came from Africa and I bought a few prints of his work that he painted of France. He had painted in oil paints and the textures of his originals were so thick and rough it was just asking to be touched. I found a box full of old keys, rusted and mysterious. A key is meant to open something locked, and you always wonder what mystery is locked away waiting for this key. I bought a set for just two euro and the vendor gave me another one that I was eyeing, and he said, “Here, you take it as souvenir,” and smiled at me.