London Life Shops

an old curiosity shop

February 11, 2013

Well, living in the middle of london, you don’t expect to come across shops that transport you back 30 years. Do you remember the days of the curiosity shops? Now, we have antiques shops, junk shops and everything in between but i’m fascinated by those that haven’t spruced themselves up simply to charge more money. So, it was with a sense of glee that i passed this curiosity shop on my way home. I love discovering shops that make me work a little, make me look harder, search for something unique. Isn’t that half the fun of shopping? Isn’t that a more creative way of shopping?

It is sometimes just too easy to walk into a perfectly styled shop with perfectly designed objects and products in it. I get my best ideas from looking at random stuff that has not had consideration of colour, design, style or composition. I often find colour combinations and patterns that give me ideas for a design, a drawing or a solution to a problem. I suppose, it challenges me to really look and think.

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To my delight, alexander the owner was there to greet me. We hit it off immediately and so i decided to take some photos for you guys while listening to alexander’s great storytelling.

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It’s difficult to describe the man. He is one of these larger than life characters, utterly charming and unique! There’s probably nothing alexander hasn’t done. From humble beginnings in belfast, assisting rag-and-bone men on a horse and cart to being a tool maker, jewellery maker, chef and working in the building and scaffolding trade, alexander has come full circle. He has been running this shop for the past 16 years.

Can i describe the content? No i can’t. There’s a cornucopia of objects, ever changing. See for yourselves… here’s stuff that caught my eye and that hopefully will inspire you, in terms of colour, composition and patterns.

I’ve always loved these lead soldiers and would spent hours and hours as a child helping my brother paint them.

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A great set of buttons.

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Love this head bust against the books.

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Apparently this is an entire set of letters sent by an indian gentlemen, meticulously hand-written in the 1940’s.

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This old tv will be transformed into a drinks bar. That’s cool!

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Really liked these randomly hanging guitars. Wonder what piece of furniture one can make with them.

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Spooky and fun. Would make an interesting pattern design.

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Authentic war helmets.

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Anyone for croquet?

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Mad or what? All hanging happily together.

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Piece of curtain that can be used for anything really. I liked the vibrant red colour.

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Ok, this was just left at the back on a shelf. NOT FOR SALE! I simply liked the colour combination. The mustard against hellman’s yellow.

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Alexander is also an artist and loves making all sorts of things. The next 2 photographs are of some props he made and used for last year’s new year’s eve party.

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These next pieces are his true passion. Apparently the mannequins come in very damaged and he lovingly restores them to their original state. He then paints them throughout and creates these outfit as seen here below . The details of this labour of love are very inspiring and i even spotted painted fingernails. I think these lamps are eclectic and fabulous and would look incredible in a club situation or large house.

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Whether you are just browsing for ideas, in need for props for a shoot or simply just looking for an ornament you must pay a visit to this unique place. There is no name above the shop front and you won’t find a website or any social media links. What you will find is a shop full of surprises and interesting objects, all you need to do is open your eyes!

Alexander & Co, 57 Fortress Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1AD

Alexander & Co has since closed down.

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25 Comments

  • Reply WeHeartHome February 11, 2013 at 11:33 am

    Woah! This is quite amazing. I understand what you mean about finding inspiration in the unintentional. Much less restriction, the road is open for anything. That said, too much chaos can have the opposite effect on me and leave me confused. There’s always a balance I guess.

    The mannequin is OUT of this WORLD!

    Like the mental image of you and your bro painting little soldiers together. Sweet!

    Thanks for sharing Tina.

    Xx. Holly.

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:15 am

      Nicely put: “I understand what you mean about finding inspiration in the unintentional”.

      I saw the mannequin in the window and just had to stop!
      Pleasure sweetie xx

  • Reply Catherine Bedson February 11, 2013 at 11:58 am

    What a fascinating shop..reminded me of stories Mum has told us about rag and bone men in Belfast. Such an interesting guy and his shop has so much soul. The mannequin is amazing, the passionate restoration shines through..something you buy when you’ve already got everything, so beautiful. I also loved your childhood insight of painting soldiers with your brother. xx

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:19 am

      A is larger than life and a truly unique individual! He has so many stories to tell and I could’ve listened to him for weeks.

      Yes, he told me how he lovingly restores them bit by bit. I was really fascinated by that! xx

  • Reply Louisa Blackmore February 11, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    That shop is BONKERS. I want to visit though asap, looks amazing. What a find Tina, love it! x

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:19 am

      Haha. Yes, take Alfie, he won’t know where to look first> Thanks love xx

  • Reply sue February 11, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    you know, i’d never thought about it before, but yes, i actually miss this old shopping experience where you have to divine for your own inspiration… i had forgotten the day before shops carefully curated each collection to mix & match with eachother… & i miss it… wholeheartedly! this reminds me of a tour through my family’s homes… my youngest brother collects helmets & war memorabilia, my eldest brother’s home serves as a refuge for toy soldiers (and many, many other motley collections) & he himself makes & collects guitars, so that wall of them is very familiar… my dad always hung onto our old tv (not dissimilar to this one) with plans to fashion it into a wine rack & i think my sister has one of the village teapots shown up above… on top of this my mum still speaks of the rag & bone men who used to work the streets of her childhood! wow… transported… this is my favourite find of yours! (and i want that stash of indian letters so badly simply to make sure they’re never spilt up!)… just lovely! take me there someday?!?

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:23 am

      Glad I inspired a tour down memory lane…. gosh, this could have been written for you!

      The letters fascinated me too. A told me lots more about them and how that man was such a gentleman.
      We can meet for a coffee up the road and go for this sort of shopping experience for a change.

  • Reply parisbreakfast February 12, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Love following in your footsteps Tina
    You uncover the most fab places
    Lots of drooling here for the gold bikini..ahem

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:24 am

      Thank you Carol. Every stone on the gold bikini has been glued on individually. Really a labour of love!

  • Reply Alison Sye February 12, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    This is my kind of shop. Beautiful photographs, Tina, I especially like the one with the mayonnaise and the soldiers.

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:26 am

      Yes, thought so…. you know that shot with Hellmann’s mayonnaise was a must for me. The colours just spoke to me. I think A used the buckets for storing stuff but I didn’t care!!!

      Thanks Alison x

  • Reply Doris February 12, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    What a great shop, I could imagine my spending quite a lot of time just going through everything. Alexander sounds like an interesting character with a varied past. Wonderful. xD

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:28 am

      Really glad you like it…. I think places like these are so rare and I’m delighted he’s really quite local to me!

      ALexander was seriously interesting. I spent hours in there just listening to the man! Thanks Doris x

  • Reply Nicola February 12, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    Is Alexander related to Tim Burton? I can remember shops like these from my childhood and you have found one that hasn’t jumped on the vintage bandwagon. Love the mannequin x

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:29 am

      Haha. I think Tim Burton is even a little more eccentric… but maybe, they could be bros!
      It’s really as raw as I photographed it, which is so refreshing, right?

      ALso really loved the mannequins. xx

  • Reply Gerard @WalnutGrey February 12, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    I don’t know what to say… it’s… well it’s… just horrific. Tina your photos paint a vivid image of this shop and how it must look (I seem to remember you posting about another ‘junk’ shop a while ago that had me breaking out in a cold sweat).

    Alexander sounds and looks like a loveable eccentric character. It would appear he has a passion for mayhem and disorder… or perhaps he has a particular ‘system’ within the shop that makes sense to him.

    But I couldn’t go there. I always hated the old rag & bone type shops and those dusty curiosity places. We differ… I get my best ideas from perfectly designed objects, shops and images. I need to have that sense of the aesthetic in order to function.

    But I applaud what is to my mind, your sense of being the audacious adventurer.

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:35 am

      Hahahahahahahahaha. Love the: “it’s… well it’s… just horrific”!

      Alexander, if you’re reading this, don’t worry. Gerard is completely lovely, a fellow irish and you’d get on like a house on fire!

      Yes, I remember your comment well on my aladins cave post!!! I think you got an allergic reaction:-)

      I believe ALexander has worked out the order within his chaos and am sure he is more on top of things than you can imagine!!

      I promise that when you’re next up in London, I will not force you to meet in this shop:-)

      We certainly differ, I find anything that is ‘perfectly designed’ not conducive to creative thinking. I admire it, I aesthetically like it but it doesn’t make my creative juices flow!

      Oh, love, I like my title as ‘audacious adventurer’.xx

  • Reply Helen February 13, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    I’m so glad places and people like this exist… just wonderful!

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:36 am

      Hello Helen, thank you for stopping by:-)

      Me too, the world would be far too boring if these places didn’t exist. Thank you:-)

  • Reply Chi @ 106 February 13, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    Funny Nicola should mention Tim Burton – I was just thinking how very similar they look! 😀

    I actually love the idea of places like this but my phobia of old things would either prevent me from going in or keep my arms firmly glued to my sides if I did.

    Shame, really because I’m forever spotting unique pieces like these in people’s homes in magazines and I often wish I could stop being so silly because they do add a certain je ne sais quois to a space.

    My brother-in-law is a set designer so he would absolutely adore Alexander & Co.

    Great find, Tina – keep them coming! 😀 x

    • Reply tina February 15, 2013 at 12:39 am

      Yes, can see where you guys are coming from…

      Of course, I forgot you have a phobia of this but I know that as a designer, something pulls you to the rawness, disorder and quirkyness. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Maybe one day you’ll overcome it and then you can also have a uniquely sourced product displayed in your home. Until then, well, the shopping world is your oyster.

      Thanks love x

  • Reply Margarida February 17, 2013 at 9:52 am

    WOW ThIS IS GREAT!
    Not long ago I found one in Walton Street, in between Sloane Square and South Kensington where you can spend hours going through beautiful fun old stuff.
    🙂

    • Reply tina February 17, 2013 at 10:51 am

      Hello Margarida, thank you for stopping by. I just read your ‘about me’ and you started your blog in 2005 (wow).

      I see you moved to London last month. Welcome. I hope you enjoy it here as much I have over the past 30 years.
      I co-run a Facebook Group for bloggers in the UK so will email you details to join if you wish. We are a nice bunch and meet every month. 😉

  • Reply Ingrid February 20, 2013 at 7:31 am

    Tina, I think you should do walking tours round London! x i

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