Bric-a-brac shaming
First there was slut shaming. Then eating-in-public shaming. Now I’m reporting on a new – and yes, rather niche – variation: Bric-a-brac shaming.
I had just bought the above print for a steal in a New Cross charity shop. That evening me and the fella were unwinding with one of my ultimate guilty pleasures – a late night Bargain Hunt marathon. Yesterday show it back-to-back with Flog It in the early hours. As ‘collectable’ items were sold for pathetic amounts in an auction full of stoney-faced Lancastrians, the fella turned to me and said, “This is all just bric-a-brac.”
Bargain Hunt © BBC 2011
A flush of shame shivered through me. If he thinks that carved walking stick, Victorian hair brush and vintage petrol can are bric-a-brac, what must he think of the constant tide of charity shop trossel that washes into the house on a weekly basis? He reassured me that, unlike the fleeced-up duos on Bargain Hunt, I had taste, but still…
Has this happened to you? Has your triumphant arrival home with a slightly broken Ercol chair, cardboard box full of mismatched saucers or a maudlin clown painting ever been greeted by a raised eyebrow or a glance at the dustbin? If so please share in the comments. You’re among friends here…
this article just made me laugh outloud !! yes, I do it all the time. There is an antiques centre just near me (too near) and i’m there all the time. the other day I caught sight of myself in one of the ‘broken’ mirrors rummaging around in the ‘junk’ and thought ‘what has happened to me’ !!? what am I actually looking for ? why am I actually here ?……and then all of a sudden I see a little gem and think ‘yes’ bingo ! walk off with a plastic small homepride ‘fred’ character and when i get home my husband says ‘what is that for?’ and i say ‘for the kitchen – fab isn’t it !!!’
hilarious ! I have actually used him as a picture on my blog and website so not all wasted and he was only £1 !!!! (albeit he was broken and he’s stuff together with blue tak!)
p.s. i’m currently bidding on some ‘art’ on eBay and not totally sure if they are really retro cool or just totally awful !!!
This must be a family thing!! I am afraid the fella will just have to get used to it. Anyway why would you Not need a ferret carrier.xx
Yes! And it’s funny how now, the more pictures I’m buying for the walls, I realise how influenced by the style of Grandma’s pictures I am. All from rummage boxes in sale rooms too. x Plus ferret carriers are so cool – good call x
We’re the other way round! O is always buying bits of random tat. A few years ago he really surpassed himself by coming home with a massive bronze sculpture of a reclined naked man. It’s not even a good sculpture…
Ref: Mark’s Room of Shit. Our friends indeed prove I think that it isn’t just the ladies. Honestly though, at some point I might have to run a Swap Shop style event to get rid of some of it x
If we approach anything resembling a second hand shop, my other half positions himself firmly between me an the shop and grabs my arm and escorts me firmly to the other side of the shop chanting ‘No, no, no, no, no!’ He loves minimalism, I love to collect (he says hoard!) so you decide! Lol
I suggest two connected houses next door to each other, a la Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter. x
As recipient of said ferret carrier I think it is totally brilliant and where else would I keep my lovely stock of French soaps? Buy brocante and display it with irony I say.
Also, if there is a ferret related emergency you will be the one who steps out of the phone box and says..”don’t panic I have a ferret carrier”
There’s definitely a very fine line between tat and treasures, and I often end up questioning myself. Invariably though, I come home with it anyway! Fortunately my Mum and Sis are both tat/ treasure hunters, but the majority of my friends just can’t get their head around it. All the more for me!
Oh my cousin has been commenting on this post, and my mum! It’s definitely an inherited trait. You either have it or you don’t!
Trossel what a great term. I promised not to indulge but the three china swans needed a new home honest they did!
You can’t leave these things in the shop – it will haunt you for years! x