Good Monday!
I wanted to do a 'pun' post, and have the topic of today be about fairs, instead of links that are fair of face. Specifically, I wanted to do a History of the Flea Market post, because of the amazing time I had as a vendor for the third time at the Junction Flea yesterday (pictures of the big day below!). But, in conducting some (minor preliminary) research, I discovered that the roots of the Flea aren't as clear as one would expect. For one thing, the name 'Flea Market' has several possible origins. One theory dates from 1850s France during Napoleon III's reign, when the street vendors had to 'flee' their regular posts because of changes that were made to city streets to allow the military to move without any embarrassing, slapstick-type hindrances (I'm imagining banana peels and fine linen becoming comedic, g-rated versions of land mines and barracks). The name for their new digs then became the 'flee' market.
The most popular theory is that the term Flea Market is named after a Parisian bazaar held in the 1860s called the Marche aux Puces, which literally translates into "Market with Fleas". It was dubbed with this unfortunate moniker due to the rumours of bug-invested wares that one could find there.
BUT, another theory (and my favourite since it includes elements of New York AND the Netherlands) is that the name originated from an 18th century market held in New York City, long before the Parisian Marche aux Puces. The market was held close to the East River in Manhattan, which was once a Dutch colonial settlement. The market was called Vlie by the Dutch, which translates into (not surprisingly due to its location) Swamp. Since the Dutch 'v' is pronounced in English as an 'f', the market became known as a word that was somewhere between Fly and Flea. Later, this would become solidified as Flea due to the market's reputation as both a bazaar full of blood-sucking vendors out to suck you dry of your last penny (I'm not doing that, I swear) and because of the questionable quality of some of the upholstery sold at the markets and their suspicious hole-lined, crawly demeanour (again, I promise). Markets such as the Marche aux Puces would continue the expression "Flea Market", following the Dutch, and give us the notion that we have of them today.
I wanted to do a 'pun' post, and have the topic of today be about fairs, instead of links that are fair of face. Specifically, I wanted to do a History of the Flea Market post, because of the amazing time I had as a vendor for the third time at the Junction Flea yesterday (pictures of the big day below!). But, in conducting some (minor preliminary) research, I discovered that the roots of the Flea aren't as clear as one would expect. For one thing, the name 'Flea Market' has several possible origins. One theory dates from 1850s France during Napoleon III's reign, when the street vendors had to 'flee' their regular posts because of changes that were made to city streets to allow the military to move without any embarrassing, slapstick-type hindrances (I'm imagining banana peels and fine linen becoming comedic, g-rated versions of land mines and barracks). The name for their new digs then became the 'flee' market.
The most popular theory is that the term Flea Market is named after a Parisian bazaar held in the 1860s called the Marche aux Puces, which literally translates into "Market with Fleas". It was dubbed with this unfortunate moniker due to the rumours of bug-invested wares that one could find there.
BUT, another theory (and my favourite since it includes elements of New York AND the Netherlands) is that the name originated from an 18th century market held in New York City, long before the Parisian Marche aux Puces. The market was held close to the East River in Manhattan, which was once a Dutch colonial settlement. The market was called Vlie by the Dutch, which translates into (not surprisingly due to its location) Swamp. Since the Dutch 'v' is pronounced in English as an 'f', the market became known as a word that was somewhere between Fly and Flea. Later, this would become solidified as Flea due to the market's reputation as both a bazaar full of blood-sucking vendors out to suck you dry of your last penny (I'm not doing that, I swear) and because of the questionable quality of some of the upholstery sold at the markets and their suspicious hole-lined, crawly demeanour (again, I promise). Markets such as the Marche aux Puces would continue the expression "Flea Market", following the Dutch, and give us the notion that we have of them today.
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| The booth, this time complete with my new adverts. A couple people wanted to buy the actual signs. I wasn't sure what to make of that, except to compliment my photographer, models, and logo designer :) |
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| A study of tapestries in contrast: One Aubusson-style one from the 1950s or 1960s, and one from the 1970s or 1980s. Also, I love that yellow dress and probably should have kept it but I really look awful in yellow. |
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| This pony-hair clutch never sold, which I'm pretty surprised about. |
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| Although, that clutch WAS hiding under this tee the entire time. |
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| This coat never sold either, which was equally as surprising. But, it was 24 degrees out, so perhaps the October Flea will find it a buyer. |
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| So many shooooooes... |
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| And boooooots... |
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| Handmade moccasins- an excellent stocking stuffer |
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| I love this set of 'leaning' mugs - also still unsold! |
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