After browsing the website, I was excited to see in the flesh what treats Curiosity had in store for me. They were just adding the finishing touches when I arrived but as I hovered, taking in the thoughtfully crafted display, I was reminded how much I like this space with its whitewashed walls and high ceiling which may feel stark and cold to some but to me feels thoroughly cleansing.
The display of items from the hand bound, fabric photo albums of Tamasyn Gambell to the decorative window films of Emma Jeffs draws from not only the concept of the old British curiosity shop but also very much from the Cabinet of Curiosities, a term used to refer to a personal collection of man-made and natural objects selected to provoke wonder in the viewer. Although the popularity of such cabinets or 'Wunderkammer'(Cabinet of Wonders)as they were also referred to began to wane after the 17th century, our desire to collect beautiful, unique objects has not as I am sure Catherine Hammerton, the visionary behind Curiosity will vouch. There are cabinets and drawers bursting with treasures made of all manner of mediums and adorned using a variety of techniques, check out the fun, sculptural balloon lights from Jenny Beardshall and the whimsical hand screen-printed wallpapers by Lizzie Allen. With both a vintage and contemporary feel displayed in two and three dimensional forms, I am sure this pop-up shop will offer a little addition to anyone's personal 'wonder-room'!
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