we nearly went to narnia

There’s a place only a few blocks from where we live, I’m not sure how to describe it. Unbelievable? Surreal? Amazing? I guess it’s and antique shop, but it’s not your normal crystal goblets, dressers and old paintings. The stuff in this place is huge. I don’t know, think of the sculptures you’d see in the Louvre, or the furniture you’d see in the Palace of Versailles, or the fountains you’d see in a royal garden… it’s all there. All of the stuff in this place is giant and very very old looking, oversized and opulent. Mr You and I went there for a poke about today for the first time.



The actual building seemed just as old and decrepit; no structure or display, broken floor tiles, mismatched scraps of carpet, cardboard boxes lying in the middle of walkways left to be stepped over. Rooms here that opened into hallways or stairways there in a maze-like layout. The stuff on display crammed in and discarded, dusty and piled on top of each other. Un-hung chandeliers left lying down the steps, marble sculptures and gilded mirrors propped on top of ornate upholstered dining chairs.



Everything in there seemed European, with fireplace mantles that were ornate and much taller than me. Marble statues in every corner crammed in between heavy four poster beds and royalty length dining suits, under stained glass lights. The prices were high. A $16,500 antique French dining table, $2,000 gold framed mirror, $3,500 marble bust.

The sculpture garden out the back was jammed full of garden sculptures and fountains, and out here there was an interesting mix of European and Asian pieces. You couldn’t help but feel a little haunted; a feeling like they all came to life at night and shared stories from distant places after dark.



Outside next to the building was another array of outdoor articles. Heavy ornate garden gates, more sculptures and so many giant important looking urns. Still left neglected and unguarded (no fences, the only security was the fact that each item was far to heavy to be lifted without a forklift). A ute left abandoned amongst it all; a victim of an item too heavy, or it could have simply become lost inside the jungle of mythological beasties longing for company more modern than themselves.

I think the one photo I have of this place, that sums it up more than any other is the one of the brick below. Can’t you see? Look, see the brick, on top of the old broom, resting on the antique model boat, on the custom built trailer, next to the cannon!