Browse Topics
Tools
Editor's choice

Berlin noise: November’s hottest concerts

Talking vernissage: New buildings, old buildings

In Focus: Get the story behind the story

English theatre in Germany: The fall edition

Her-stories and she-roes: Of struggle and success

Across the border: The best stories from Greece to Norway

Dancing in Deutschland: German Festivals in 2009

Expat Voices: Graeme Collins on living in Germany

The Klassical Junkie: Paying Tribute to Berlin

Looking back: Remembering World War II

Internaxx Stock Market
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.3 0.50
DAX 5252.45 1.50
IBEX 30 10726.8 0.59
CAC 40 3377.59 1.40
FTSE 100 4564.5 0.79
AEX 276.85 0.95
DJIA 9096.72 -0.13
Nasdaq 1975.51 0.39
FTSE MIB 20341.67 1.65
TSX Composite 10570.54 -1.74
ASX 4148.9 -0.60
Hang seng 20135.5 -2.37
Straits Times 0.00
ISEQ 20 442.48 0.27
You are here: Home Life in Lifestyle Antiks, anyone?

07/10/2008Antiks, anyone?

Perusing flea markets in Germany is like being kid in a candy store: The sheer assortment of antiques, vintage and second-hand home decor on offer is overwhelming, writes the Antiques Diva.

German market

To summarise antique shopping and flea market opportunities in a country as large and diverse as Germany is as difficult as shoving a fully masted ship into the mouth of bottle. I won’t attempt to give a comprehensive list but instead strive to offer a few of my favourite shopping locales in this best of the best Antiques Diva -- Germany Overview.

The reasons for the wealth of treasures available in Germany go well beyond the size of the nation. As explained by Judith Miller, author of the Miller’s Antiques Price Guides series, before Germany was one nation, the German states engaged in a natural rivalry for wealth and power that went hand in white-gloved hand with an urge to outdo their neighbours.

"In their pursuit of excellence, individual nation states specialised in furniture, glass-making, art and architecture, producing designs and workmanship of the very highest standards," said Miller. "As a result, the whole region shares a legacy of impressively endowed castles and palaces, each embodying a succession of style development that influenced the whole of Europe at different eras – from Neoclassicism in Berlin and Baroque in Bavaria to Jundstil (art nouveau) in Vienna."

TrodelmarktNeedless to say, Germany to this day houses a wealth of treasures and a visit through the German countryside is a bit like taking bites of apple strudel – each bite tastier than the last. Wandering flea marketing in Germany is like being kid in a candy store: The sheer assortment of antiques, vintage and second-hand home decor on offer is overwhelming, both in variety and the scope of the collections. The reunification of East and West Germany has changed the antique landscape as increasingly more treasures are being released into circulation and almost two decades after the wall has fallen Miller calls Germany, "The New France."

0 reactions to this article

Inside Expatica
The ABCs of the German school system

The ABCs of the German school system

Trying to size up the education system is one of the hardest things facing those embarking on a foreign posting. We set out what you should know about German schools and daycare.

How to move to Germany legally: visas and citizenship

How to move to Germany legally: visas and citizenship

Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German visa and citizenship system.

Taking your pet on assignment

Taking your pet on assignment

When moving abroad, the owner must make an informed decision as to whether their pet is up to the trip. Here’s an overview of the factors involved.

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Moving to Germany but still searching for a job? Check out Expatica’s comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of employment in Germany, including information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.