There is no odder little store for housewares and accessories than Obscura. Run by Mike Zohn and Evan Michelson and nestled on the side of 10th Street, it is a treasure trove of obscure, slightly nefarious antiques and collectibles -- and every now and then there is a gem of a find tucked away inside...
Obscura caught our attention for its unique collection of old school desk lamps that we wanted to use by a client's bedside. They also sell mounted deer heads, old photographs, laboratory glassware, clocks and animal teeth.
Our favorites were a shell casing lamp we saw once in the window and the funky diner clocks -- things we've always wanted, but have yet to buy.
Trigger Magazine says: "The perfect antithesis of the Sex and the City plague that threatens to gentrify the East Village."
>>Originally posted by Maxwell on 8.12.2005
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Comments (4)
Great shop -- picked up two 100-year old top hats and a 19th century fencing mask one expensive afternoon.
Hand's down, this is my favorite store in New York City. Possibly the world. I'll admit that the old-timey Syphillis illustrations that now decorate my bedroom aren't exactly an aphrodisiac, but the colors are so vibrant!
definitely my favorite store in the whole wide world. the nice lady that runs it is such a joy to chatter with - as she sits on her old barber's chair heheh. when i first found this store, i bought a great big jaw bone for $10...recently i went in there and the same item was three times the price, but yaknow what? i don't mind. i hope they're making enough money to stick around...rents in that area are ridiculous... hopefully Obscura remains a long time! til the nice lady is dust and bones! ;)
my favorite purchases from Obscura include: my trusty deer jaw bone, a baby doll's 10" arm, an old bottle of poison (sigh...empty!)
Obscura is always on the list of places i take visitors to as well...then around the corner to Odessa's for some cheap eats!
What a groovy store and the proprietress sounds like she is the real treasure in this place. Definately putting this down as a "must visit" next time I am in the city.