tacky treasures

Further to the kitsch vs tacky debate:

What makes something a tacky treasure? A tacky treasure is, first of all, tacky. However, to be a treasure, it must possess an additional quality, which could be any one of these: a naïve yet ultimately flawed effort to be sophisticated or stylish; a complete lack of shame in exploiting poor taste; or a deliberate flaunting of poor taste as a rebellion against established norms
from Tacky Treasures (via Art for Housewives)

On the books page, there is a link to an article about The Mount Rainier Antique, Thrift and Salvage Shop

Step inside, and you'll see stuff aplenty, in two rooms partitioned with bookcases and jampacked with home accessories, collectibles, a few pieces of furniture and enough uncategorizable kitsch to supply a museum exhibition...
Proprietor Stuart Morris emerges from the jumbled, dim interior looking as if he belongs there: casual, laid-back, more free spirit than super-salesman...


This description had us all misty eyed for the glory days of the local Salvation Army Thrift Emporium - the amazing clutter of eclectic priceless items before it became a chain store with centralised pricing and a uniform feel. A lucky dip of eclectic serendipity.

Who knows what potential lies in an old electric cow-hair clipper or a set of Brio wooden train tracks or a drawerful of pocket knives or a Frigidaire defrosting scraper

And for more treasures, see the beautiful Antiquated series of photos at Sublimate

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Comments: tacky treasures

There are still gems to be found at the Moonee Ponds Arthritis Op Shop. I know this to be so. It is the penultimate (more probably ultimate) resting place for excess to requirements (or simply excessive) Christmas and birthday presents from my mother.

I highly recommend the donkey (one owner, low mileage, ridden to Bethlehem only once, accessorised with nodding dashboard Hawaiian hula girl) which fundamentally dispenses cigarettes. Mention my name and I'm sure Alice the Fence will thrown in a couple of my mother's lovingly hand-crocheted coat hangers. (Pink or duck-egg blue only.)
Posted by Sedgwick at January 9, 2004 04:16 PM

Hmmm - I might have to hop up to the Arthritis ASAP. Many moons ago, another Arthritis op shop used to be very good. Gone for cafes now.
But really, Mr S, any collector will tell you to hold onto your cigarette themed bric-a-brac.
As the habit decreases, the stock appreciates.
So the ass and accessory-lass will no doubt be snapped up before we get a move on.
Posted by boynton at January 9, 2004 04:40 PM