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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Cabinet of Curiosities



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People are natural hunter-gatherers. We love to collect possessions, amassing objects and trinkets as precious reminders, to study or simply to enjoy. Some people collect stamps, others coins, yet others shoes, vintage couture, you name it. I find the most interesting collections are the disparate ones; a collection of objects that have little to no relation to one another, but speak of the owner's tastes, travels and interests. What better way to get to know someone than through the things they collect in their lifetime.

The cabinet of curiosities - also known as a kunstkammer or wunderkammer - has a history as rich as the sum of its parts. Perhaps the most famous of all the kunstkammer is the one owned by Rudolf II, the Holy Roman Emperor from 1576 to 1612. 

Christie's is auctioning off the contents of such a kunstkammer collection during its King Street sale on Friday 12th of July in London. The collection is filled with antique treasures such as tobacco boxes, caskets, busts, globes, beautifully carved ivory trinkets, inlaid cabinets, horns and teeth, porcelain, glass and silver. It's enough to make you want to buy the whole collection, lock, stock and barrel - budget allowing, of course!


Creel and Gow

Creel and Gow
Both Creel and Gow and The Evolution Store - both located in Manhattan - are like the retail version of a cabinet of curiosity. Just imagine - everything is for sale!!

The Evolution Store 

The Evolution Store











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