I have long been a fan of the elegant furniture and beautiful glassware from the Victorian era. So, when a new Victorian dealer moved into the my favorite antique mall I made a beeline to his booth.
There, offered for sale amidst the Eastlake dressers and gilt-framed pictures, were a number of skulls, taxidermy and a large wicker coffin. What I found was a bit unsettling, but it introduced me to a line of collectibles that I, until now, had only read about. This category, that has an ever growing audience, is simply called “Oddities.”
Victorians were obsessed with death and the macabre which comes as no surprise when we consider that cholera, diphtheria, rubella and typhus were a constant threat. Mourning the passing of a loved one was often a lengthy and elaborate affair and mementos of the occasion were cherished. As a result, many of them have survived the passage of time in remarkably good condition.
Items made from the hair of a deceased family member were common in the mid-1800s and are finding an audience of collectors in 2021. Beautiful gold and sterling “human hair” jewelry pieces including lockets, brooches, rings and earrings from the last half of the 19th century are seeing record prices at auctions and specialty shops with prices running from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. As the number of funeral homes in the U.S. increased there was less access to the hair of the deceased and as a result few pieces were made after 1920.
Photography was in its infancy in the 1800s and capturing a likeness required 2-3 minutes of sitting still to avoid blurring. As a result the subjects being photographed would often appear to have a stoic and almost ghostly expression. When you add to the mix the fact that often these were posed with a corpse, the resulting photos can be quite disturbing. Photos of this type are referred to as a Daguerreotype and can be found in abundance online and at area malls.
In addition to funeral items, 1800s poison bottles are popular. These were sold in amber, blue, black and green bottles to prevent them from being mistaken for medicine bottles, which were clear. Their vibrant colors and morbidly graphic labels make them a favorite with collectors. Watch for those with “POISON or DEATH” in bold raised lettering.
The collecting of animal remnants, including bones and skulls was a favorite pastime in the Victorian era. These were often found displayed in the homes of the affluent in elaborate curio cabinets known as Wunderkammers. Both these remnants and their Victorian display cabinets are demanding top dollar in “Oddities” shows.
The art of taxidermy started in England in the early 1800s and spread to the U.S. by the latter part of the century. While it has maintained a modest audience through the years, it is seeing a resurgence as the popularity of oddity collecting grows. Collectors have a special interest in deformed animals or those with extra heads or arms.
In 2010 The Discovery Channel and its sister network The Science Channel premiered a half-hour documentary/reality show called “Oddities.” The show followed the day-to-day operations of the East Village, Manhattan shop, Obscura Antiques and Oddities, a quaint little place where you could purchase monkey skulls, mummified cats, Victorian era coffins and art made from nail clippings. The show lasted only four seasons but may still be viewed online via YouTube. If you have a strong stomach, and a sense of humor that leans a touch toward the dark side, you may want to check these out.
Well another year has passed and what year it was! May we look forward with hope, faith and the belief that 2021 will be a prosperous and healthy year for all of us. Stay safe, my friends. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
