As one of my friends recommended a nice antique market near her house I visited there, the Northcote Road Antiques Market. Some antique markets look exclusive for me but that market had a friendly atmosphere like I can drop in on my walk. I found out fiddle pattern spoons which I had always been interested in at the market. It is said that the name of fiddle pattern comes from the shape of the handle like a fiddle. Spoons I bought are Victorian silver-plate and carved a lovely initial. I heard that silver-plate has little value as noble metals. But it's no problem for me because I'm just collecting my favorite and useful old things. And I think it's good that these spoons with the initial were used well even if they are silver-plate. 

知り合いの住む街に、可愛らしいアンティークマーケットがあるというので訪ねました。Northcote Road Antique Market です。素人には、ちょっと入りにくい雰囲気のマーケットもありますが、ここは散歩がてらふらりと覗いてもいい感じ。ところ狭しと並べられた古い品々の中に、以前から気になっていた、フィドルパターンのスプーンを見つけました。柄の形が、ヴァイオリン（Fiddle）に似ているのが呼び名の由来だそうです。 19世紀のヴィクトリア時代のスプーンで、持ち主のイニシャルが彫られています。「純銀ではなく、シルバープレート（銅に銀をコーティングしたもの）だから、貴金属としての価値は低いよ」と言われましたが、「好きで普段使いできそうなものを集めているだけなので構いません」と答えました。純銀ではなくても、イニシャルを入れて大切に使っていた気持ちがとても素敵に思えます。

One old plate caught my eye at the Sablon Antiques Market in Brussels. The shop owner told me that it was a 18th century Dutch Delft plate. Delft is tin-glazed pottery made in the Netherlands from 16th century. I was attracted by its oriental pattern and imagined that it would be beautiful if I put it in my Japanese antique cabinet. I bought it in memory of the trip.

ブリュッセルのアンティークマーケットで目に留ったお皿。店主が、18世紀のデルフト皿だよと教えてくれました。デルフトはオランダの陶器。数枚のお皿のうち、これだけがオリエンタルな絵柄で、何となく心惹かれました。東京の住まいにある日本の古い食器棚に並べたらきれいかなとか、酒の肴をちょこっと盛り付けるのもにいいかなとか、あれこれ思いを巡らせ、旅の記念に買いました。

Which place makes you excited? I like an attic with old things and found a place like that in Brussels. Stef Antiek is a famous antique and vintage shop like a large attic (950㎡). Actually I was a little nervous when I moved deeper inside because I didn't know if I was allowed to enter there or not. But it made me excited more. Old things placed in a jumble looked like arts.

わくわくするお店ってあります。ブリュッセルで見つけた Stef Antiek は、大きな屋根裏部屋のようなアンティークと古道具のお店 (950㎡）。奥へ奥へと進むうちに、果たしてここは入っていいスペースなのか? と心細さを覚えるくらい。でもそれがまたわくわくを掻き立てるのです。雑然と置かれた古い品々は、アート作品のようにも見えます。

When I went to Lewes to visit antiques centers and flea markets I happened to find a nice little  shop, FREIGHT. This shop sells various items produced and designed within the UK. I liked their simple and beautiful products and bought a medium-sized dish which I loved at first glance. Although I thought it was a new thing  the shop assistant told me that it was a British vintage dish. I don’t need many things, luxuries and something special but I want to live with favorite quality things. This shop reminds me of the things like those.

It's difficult to explain why I like antiques and vintage items. Old things add warmth and little spice to my daily life. So I don't mind whether they have value as antiques or not. When I saw three little bears at an antique market I imagined some joyful stories, like they were brothers. Actually the stall keeper told me that they were a family. I think that life to take good care of old things is lovely.

I went on a day trip to Lewes. Lewes is a lovely small town, just over an hour by train from London. It has many antique shops and flea markets. I could buy some things that I liked. A vintage shopping basket and a French pewter plate with scalloped border. Finding favorite things is a lot of fun.