Today I read that a rare 1946 film poster for Casablanca is likely to sell for nearly £300,000.
This made me think of other objects from the past that must once have been throwaway, but now are exceeding rare and sought after.
In order of rarity I thought of
Roman underpants -- when I last looked somewhere between 0 and 4 pairs were known.
Trenchers -- a trencher was a medieval wooden plate, typically made of elm (possibly because elm once seasoned did not warp much and perhaps this also accounts for its former popularity in dartboard manufacture until Dutch Elm Disease blew in), rectangular and between A5 and A4 size-wise, with a dimple at top right (for the salt). You've heard of a 'trencherman' as a word for a stout eater. I think only 4 trenchers survive.
Favours -- If you went to the races in Victorian times people gave out 'favours' - small paper decorations you could stick in your jacket lapel or hat brim. I guess these were inspired by the sprigs of plants * that people did and still do put in these places.
We know these favours existed and they can be seen in paintings of the time. Number known to have survived is 0.
I sometimes torture myself with this. Millions existed at one time; how can every single one have been thrown away? Somewhere in an old attic a favour must be lying asleep waiting to be rescued. This is why we need hoarders!
In Praise of Junk
Today I read that a rare 1946 film poster for Casablanca is likely to sell for nearly £300,000.
This made me think of other objects from the past that must once have been throwaway, but now are exceeding rare and sought after.
In order of rarity I thought of
Roman underpants -- when I last looked somewhere between 0 and 4 pairs were known.
Trenchers -- a trencher was a medieval wooden plate, typically made of elm (possibly because elm once seasoned did not warp much and perhaps this also accounts for its former popularity in dartboard manufacture until Dutch Elm Disease blew in), rectangular and between A5 and A4 size-wise, with a dimple at top right (for the salt). You've heard of a 'trencherman' as a word for a stout eater. I think only 4 trenchers survive.
Favours -- If you went to the races in Victorian times people gave out 'favours' - small paper decorations you could stick in your jacket lapel or hat brim. I guess these were inspired by the sprigs of plants * that people did and still do put in these places.
We know these favours existed and they can be seen in paintings of the time. Number known to have survived is 0.
I sometimes torture myself with this. Millions existed at one time; how can every single one have been thrown away? Somewhere in an old attic a favour must be lying asleep waiting to be rescued. This is why we need hoarders!
* Why were the Plantagenet dynasty so called?