Back on October 26, I wrote about a post that I’d discovered on the Rainring blog, in which the author talked about his purchase of an antique Victorian mirror. He has just directed me to another of his posts, in which he discusses his acquisition of a Victorian chest of drawers.
It’s a pretty piece of furniture, made of mahogany, with three rows of “harmonious” drawers. Also, as “94” puts it, it has “funky extra bits sticking out at each side.” These extra bits look a little like shoulder pads and give an air of confidence to the piece.
What I really like about this writer is the entertaining insights he gives into the psychology of an amateur antique collector. He analyzes himself as much as the furniture. He admits to having no formal knowledge of antiques, and he refuses to read up on the subject. So he allows his own taste to guide him, along with what he has learned through the process of shopping and buying.
Having been raised to be careful with his money, he struggles when he comes across a desirable antique with a price-tag that stirs his sense of guilt. This chest of drawers was such a piece, and his description of how he reached his decision to buy it is a lively bit of writing. You’ll know if you’ve read the post on the Victorian mirror that 94 has a way of allowing the universe to decide for him.
November 15th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I like the way you write too - succinct and well-balanced. my excuse for not reading up on furniture is that I’m an intuitive!