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spiritusloci · 2 months

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Objects of Use

My favourite shop in Oxford. I sometimes describe it as the "Downton Abbey product supply", but it's more than that. Everything is meticulously curated to provide the finest choices for everyday objects meant to be used in your home or garden. Do I dream of having some of these brooms? Yes. Do I want every piece of cookware in the shop? Yes. Do I want the linens and garden supplies and soaps? Yes, yes, yes. Everything I have ever bought from this shop has lasted for years and most look as new as ever. I could probably find a piece of plastic in here if I searched for it, but mostly, it's a sensuous, tactile experience of touching the fine woods, metals and textiles.

When I was a little boy I remember playing with a transistor radio. It came in a removable leather case and was made of metal. It was satisfying to spin the dial to turn it on starting with the loud, tactile click. The other dial changed the station. Both were metal and you could feel the sharpness when you pressed your thumb against them. It's the same feeling with some old cars I've been in where all the dials and levers click and snap as you turn and twist them. Ever been in an old house, smell the beewax in the air and touch the freshly polished wood as your hand glides across the surface? Ran your fingers across a puppy's back and felt the stiff hair tickle your hand? That's this shop.

#oxford #objects of use #march 2024

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spiritusloci · 2 months

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