cazalea[Seiko Moderator]
18354
My concept of a collector / collection
Jun 29, 2014,23:39 PM
RULES FOR A COLLECTION
About a year ago, I came up with my own set of 10 rules for collections:
- May start by accident but must continue with deliberate intent and specific choice (pre-meditated)
- Need not contain one of everything, especially at the beginning (no PAM 999 models; they weren't on sale)
- By definition, does not include everything; some things are out (quartz ok, no Swatch)
- Limits are imposed by economics (price of MB&H), storage or other factors
- Collected items may have utility but need not be used (watches not worn are still ok)
- Items in the collection must have a tolerably long life span (collecting ice cubes wouldn't work)
- Changes may occur over time as tastes evolve or the collected items deteriorate (get eaten, rot or rust)
- If someone else uses / touches an item from the collection, the collector bristles (shouts, removes from reach)
- Collected items must invite the collector to arrange and rearrange them (beauty accentuated by revising combinations)
- A collection must please the collector and at least one other person (collections are best shared, admired and envied)
Since I also collect books (and more) I took a look at my book collection and discovered some principles that pretty much apply to my watches too:
- I prefer buying used books over new
- I prefer to find books by serendipity, not by recommendation by others
- If I find an author or character I like, I want one of each of all their books, every one, and will get them over the course of a few years
- I don't like frequenting libraries
- I'll never belong to a book reading club (watch website? Hmmm)
- I've never read best-sellers (OK, I did just race through Steve Jobs' biography in one night)
- I loathe book clubs and other enforced buying schemes
- I've learned that publishers rarely produce consistent spine art and titles; they just can't be consistent. They can't.
- I read most of every book I buy (but not necessarily every page)
- I tend to read 3-5 books at a time
Then I looked at my oriental carpet collection and realized that I prefer my collections consist of usable , not just observable , items. By observable I mean enjoyed using all the senses , not just viewing or listening (winding, timing hamburgers on the grille, changing straps vs keeping in sealed wrapper).
What has led me to this? Our 25 woven, knotted and tied fabric items. I say "about 25" because what constitutes a "rug" depends on your definition. For more details, check this Wikipedia article on Persian carpets.
How is our collection usable ? They are on the floor, or walls. We walk on them, sit on them, store things within them, hang them on walls and / or look at them. We curl our toes in them, we stroke them, we brush cat hair off of them. Periodically we take them out on the driveway and vacuum them on both sides. Occasionally we send them off for cleaning.