Lyon Fleamarket Find - a Christofle Presse à Canard

I could not believe my eyes.

There is a magic fleamarket in the suburb of Lyon. Did I tell you I once found a set of 10 antique linen napkins with our initials monogrammed on them for €1.50 each from a box seller on the field? I was sure it was the find of a lifetime. But no.

Since today was a holiday, we made plans to get up as if it was a work day and hit the Puces de Canal nice and early. Even though it was raining and miserable, we stuck to our guns and swung up to St. Juste to pick up Francine and Lucas. Raining and miserable are really good days at fleamarkets, in my opinion. They did not come out in pyjamas, as Francine promised. I told her our bargaining power is doubled when we are wearing pyjamas but I guess she didn’t believe me. As we rolled through the 6th arrondissement, it was as if we were floating through a ghost town. Unfortunately, this morning was not a big market day, as I hoped it would be. There were a couple of box sellers out under the awnings and about half the indoor stalls were open. We had coffee and croissants before hitting the warehouse.


My jaw hit the ground when I stumbled over this Christofle duck press with its matching tray and accoutrements. Its original home was at the Casino in Charbonnières-les-Bains. The lady selling it says that she has been discussing a sale but it is far from closed. If I had the cash I would have snatched it up right there, just for a chance to use it once and pass it on. They want about 6,000 Euros for the set. I was drooling as I described the process of pressing the duck and making the sauce to Loic. I wasn’t carrying my camera with me but Francine had hers and let me take a photo. This is a once in a lifetime fleamarket find. I can pretty much confirm that I will never see such an item again at the fleamarket. Sigh.

We rummaged through the boxes outside and although I felt slightly sick to my stomach having just come down from the duck press adrenaline rush, I did find a few things that appealed to me. (note prices are after bargaining)

20 escargot forks, each fork slightly different, €2 for the lot.

A set of Fondue Bourguignonne spears, €1.

A spoon. Free.

Two knives, good for picnics. Free.

A Presse Croque Monsieur instead of a Presse à Canard, €3.

Every time we use the presse croque monsieur,
I will think of finding that beautiful presse à canard.

Puces du Canal
1 rue du Canal
69100 Villeurbanne

To inquire about the duck press
A. Bernard Brocante
Allée D, Stand 21
+33 (0)6.19.66.48.69