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The paranormal

Curio cabinet

15 replies

nonamemummy · 30/05/2020 21:26

I’d love to start a curio cabinet and have a collection of oddities. But I need some ideas! Does anyone on here have one? Star

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Giggorata · 25/06/2020 09:09

I have got a sort of curio cabinet.
At the moment, it is a large glazed wall cupboard but I want to change it to a floor standing or built in one.

Some of what's in it include:
A ram's skull, a cat's skull, a skeleton carved from bone, a pair of glass eyes, a small orrery, a snake skeleton, a phrenology head, a taxidermy kingfisher, an ammonite fossil, a Klein bottle, lots of figurines of gods and goddesses, a palmistry hand, etc. Some of these are glass jars or domes. I've got an artist made small monstrous slug like creature with a big red mouth and lots of teeth, in a jar of fluid. There is also smaller display cabinet with tiny things, like a Roman hare figure, a silver Kasli devil, a carved ivory cigarette holder shaped like a woman, a desert rose, a tiny carved totem pole, a snipe's skull, etc.

The next cupboard will either be wallpapered inside, with something large patterned in dark colours, or painted dark colour..

I love looking out for additions in charity shops or car boots 😀

nonamemummy · 25/06/2020 21:17

@Giggorata your collection sounds amazing! Are you from the uk? Where do you find all your things? I’m so glad someone replied Star

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Ostanovka · 25/06/2020 21:20

I'd like to do this in miniature using a printer's tray! I'd put shells, pebbles etc in it.

Giggorata · 26/06/2020 10:30

I am in the UK, nonamemummy, and I have been collecting for a long time, from charity shops, car boots and eBay, if the prices aren't too mad.
I've just bought a mounted egg on eBay, for £4. It's only a hen's egg but I might paint it so it looks exotic!

The miniature version in a printer's tray sounds fabulous, Ostanovka. You might like to look at some of the tiny doll's house things they sell on eBay, as well as the natural objects. Some of the hand made things are amazing.

I think I might start making more things for my cabinet, using found objects or fimo. My taste tends towards the spooky or fantastic, so I think it will be fun!

nonamemummy · 26/06/2020 10:42

That sounds like a good idea! I’ve only really looked on Etsy, there’s such lovely things on there but lot of it seems to be in America.

I like the prettier things, for example I’ve just bought some chicken feet which are painted and decorated with little skulls and bells and id also like a pretty carved skull. I need some more ideas of things like these. There’s such amazing things out there though

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Giggorata · 26/06/2020 11:45

Yeah, Etsy! I'd forgotten how fab (and expensive) it is for curios.
I do bite the bullet and pay the astronomical postage and tax costs for special things, but only about one a year....

Toseland · 26/06/2020 11:47

Look on Pinterest - I have a filled printers tray, it looks great.

nonamemummy · 26/06/2020 15:35

@Giggorata oh no is it expensive? Maybe I need to look around more then as I’ve only really bought from there!

@Toseland what’s in yours may I ask? Grin

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Giggorata · 26/06/2020 16:39

I think the prices on Etsy for hand made one of a kind things is generally fair, but the postage costs, taxes and customs charges are what make US imports a rare treat for me.

I've just tried to get some photos, but it didn’t work, I'll move some of them and try again in a bit..

Toseland · 30/06/2020 20:55

I have bits and bobs collected over the years and old family things; a Wade whimsy giraffe, seed pods from around the world, dice, matchbooks, old small keys, vintage mini lightbulbs and fuses (from electrician Grandfather) squashed pennies from holidays, smartie tops (collected as a child), shells, old enamel badges, small foreign tins like tiger balm, broken jewellery elements, sea glass, replica coins, found stones with holes. x

Giggorata · 01/07/2020 13:12

I've had to take down my cabinet, as it was too small. I might get something built in.
Here are some of my items:

Curio cabinet
Curio cabinet
Curio cabinet
Giggorata · 01/07/2020 13:15

Sorry, posted too soon. Any chance of some pics?
I love the sound of your curios, Toseland, especially since they are connected with your family.
Nonamemummy, pretty chicken feet with bells eh? These I would love to see, so unusual!

Giggorata · 04/07/2020 18:44

Update: I have found a suitable floor standing cabinet. It's only a cheap thing, but it's 6 ft tall and I intend to transform it. Smile

nonamemummy · 20/07/2020 21:31

@Giggorata yayyy glad you found one. Bet it looks amazing now.

Do you know anywhere in UK to find oddities? Any good websites, EBay sellers, Facebook groups? I’m fed up of everything I find being in America!!

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Giggorata · 21/07/2020 10:09

I am generally found haunting eBay and Etsy, and setting my search to UK only. If/when car boot sales resume, they are a great source.
There's a good seller on eBay who is in France, so the postage isn't as expensive as the ones in the USA (still expensive though). S/he makes really well finished curios, beautifully mounted. I am currently yearning after the snake skeleton in a dome.

I generally start my search in collectables and refine it to animal collectables, weird stuff, etc.

I've looked at ideas and believe I can copy some of them for less dosh... for example, I have bought some of those tiny brass candlesticks, to mount blown eggs. Paint them black and finish off with a painted bead on top of the egg.
Larger odd wooden candlesticks make great stands for cheap wooden boxes, painted or varnished with old chess pieces as finials.
I have also bought some church candlesticks, the ones with a wide base with a diameter of about 9cm. I am experimenting with a small charity shop fish bowl, a nice jar lid and a cat skull. I might paint the base a darker colour. Currently the skull is mounted on the plastic lid you get the spices in on top of a jar of curry sauce! But I’m bidding on some small glass ramekins, which I think will look nice as skull mounts.

I've got a lot of jars, as I don't like dusting 😉

Curio cabinet
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