How to Successfully Shop for Antiques in the South of France

Bradley Odom's affinity for antiquing began during his childhood, as he spent most of his youth rummaging through the overly stocked shelves at flea markets with his mother. This thrill for the hunt never left Odom as he went on to launch his interior design studio and retail shop, Dixon Rye. The brick-and-mortar store carries an array of items from Astier de Villatte dinnerware to upholstered furnishings, but what stands out are the one-of-a-kind antiques that give the shop a sense of character.

"I have always just really loved the hunt for something really unusual and different things you just don't see," says Odom. "For me, it is all about the idea of giving life to something that may have been from years or generations ago, especially in this world we live in now where that maybe isn't as important to a lot of people as it used to be."

While Odom never says no to a trip to the local flea market, he's spent almost a decade traveling the world to find the best dealers and locations for antiquing. His current locale of choice: the south of France. The tip actually came from a vendor Odom works with in Italy who raved about this magical circuit in France. Curious, Odom and his team set out on their antiquing adventure this past summer only to discover the wonders and treasures hidden in France's southern towns.

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"When you arrive in the south of France, there’s a diversity of styles that is really beautiful and invigorating," says Odom. "While Paris tends to have more cosmopolitan designs with Belgian and Scandinavian influences, as you head down to Marseilles and beyond you really feel the influence of many other cultures in addition to France. You start to see a lot more of the Italian inclinations in ornate armoires and Spanish warmth in wooden benches. Everything there is just so old with centuries of history that just radiates from the booths."

Enthralled with what he found, Odom shared with VERANDA his must-know tips for navigating the markets in the south of France, what he's always on the lookout for when antiquing, and why you should stock up on antique garden planters (more on that later!). Consider this your official antiquing playbook!

Bradley Odom's Tips for Antiquing in the South of France

The quaint antique shops in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue were amongst Bradley Odom’s favorites during his trip.

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Research, Research, Research

Before you book those plane tickets, it's important to formulate a thorough game plan that details which cities you want to stop in, along with the dates of the markets you want to hit up there. As for which cities to visit, Odom recommends starting in Montpellier where you can find several local antiques stores and city-wide flea markets such as Le Grand Bazar (it only happens once every spring and fall, so make sure to check its date before going!). From there, hit up the small towns along the coast until you reach Marseille. One of Odom's favorite spots was the small commune of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which is known for its curated and luxurious antique shops and Sunday markets.

"Each of the little shops had their own spin on what they merchandise and how they present it—some focused on midcentury pieces, others on sculptures and fragments [from] old buildings."

Consider Your Shipping Options Before Going

It's in your best interest to think about how you will ship back any items you find during your trip before leaving. Odom advises setting a budget as to how much you're willing to spend for shipping and looking into major international shippers (such as FedEx or UPS) or even trusted private shippers to see all your options. Some merchants will offer to pack and ship it, but be sure you ask them to include your information on all shipping bills to ensure you can track the package. In general, avoid using the country's national postal service as they are notorious for damaging packages and taking a long time.

bradley odom antiquing tips in the south of france

Antique planters and sculptures are some of Bradley Odom’s favorite things to pick up when antiquing.

Courtesy of Bradley Odom

Forget the Shopping List and Be Open-Minded

"More than anything, you need to be open-minded about what the possibilities are because you just don't know what you'll find," says Odom. It never hurts to have a couple things in mind to look out for, but what makes an antiquing in a new place special is the idea of finding something unique that you never thought about for your home. With that said, there are a few things Odom always tries to pick up when antiquing in France: unusual sculptures, chairs with interesting silhouettes, and vintage garden planters.

"We always keep a small capsule collection of planters in the shop of really interesting scale-wise planters," explains Odom. "They give the shop—and really any space—so much character and bring a sense of the garden indoors."

Odom also interestingly notes that you should also speak with the shop owner about the pieces you're interested in to get a full understanding of its origin and history. You'll never know when you may find a rare, limited-edition piece of French furniture hidden in the corner.

Don't Forget to Take in the Sights

It may go without saying, but one of the most important things to do while on your antiquing adventure is to take in the sights and joys of the cities you're visiting. The south of France is filled with several Michelin-starred restaurants and attractions that you'll not want to miss while you are there. "We purposely always get a car, so that way we're driving on a lot of back roads of the south of France and that's when we have the most fun," says Odom. "During our trip, we stopped at a winery sort of unannounced and had an impromptu wine tasting. For us, it's always really about getting lost and sort of finding those unique, one-of-a-kind places and pieces."