I have made it a rule to call at the branch shops of antiquarians in Shibuya every weekend since the last year. I kill time there while I wait for my daughter attending a ballet school. Recently, however, I find it pleasant rather than boring to browse the shops.
The pleasure of looking around the shops is not to find an antique for which I have seriously looked, but to come across one of which I have not ever thought. For instance, in the last weekend, a metal cigarette case attracted my attention. It looked intriguing with a world map which was engraved on its flap. I imagined stories of Five Ws about the case during a few moments; how old is this case? Did the ex-owner travel around the world with this case?
If I find an intriguing antique, however, whether I buy it or not is a different story. An antique is sometimes too old to be immaculate for an original purpose. Even if the antique can be used for the original purpose, it is not necessarily needful for everyone. This cigarette case is unavailable for me, because I do not smoke. Nevertheless, I imagined for a little how to use the cigarette case in a different way from the original purpose. It would be an excuse for myself to buy it. I thought of using it for a business card holder. What do you think of this?
Further, if I cannot think of a different way of using the antique, I can hardly put off the decision if I buy it or not until the next weekend. It may be sold out sooner if I don't buy it now. The antique in front of me may be not useful and also cannot be used even for a different purpose, but, must be the only one in the world. I have to draw the conclusion immediately.
With this and that, I would not stop browsing the branch shops of antiquarians for the time being...
Ooops, do you think I bought the cigaret case? The answer is no. Because, I spent too much time there, and had to collect my daughter in a snap!
- The Days I Spent With Leica -
The pleasure of looking around the shops is not to find an antique for which I have seriously looked, but to come across one of which I have not ever thought. For instance, in the last weekend, a metal cigarette case attracted my attention. It looked intriguing with a world map which was engraved on its flap. I imagined stories of Five Ws about the case during a few moments; how old is this case? Did the ex-owner travel around the world with this case?
If I find an intriguing antique, however, whether I buy it or not is a different story. An antique is sometimes too old to be immaculate for an original purpose. Even if the antique can be used for the original purpose, it is not necessarily needful for everyone. This cigarette case is unavailable for me, because I do not smoke. Nevertheless, I imagined for a little how to use the cigarette case in a different way from the original purpose. It would be an excuse for myself to buy it. I thought of using it for a business card holder. What do you think of this?
Further, if I cannot think of a different way of using the antique, I can hardly put off the decision if I buy it or not until the next weekend. It may be sold out sooner if I don't buy it now. The antique in front of me may be not useful and also cannot be used even for a different purpose, but, must be the only one in the world. I have to draw the conclusion immediately.
With this and that, I would not stop browsing the branch shops of antiquarians for the time being...
Ooops, do you think I bought the cigaret case? The answer is no. Because, I spent too much time there, and had to collect my daughter in a snap!
- The Days I Spent With Leica -
