The Collector

Shortly after returning home from our trip, I sat reading an old People magazine and resting from unpacking my Mexican treasures, when I stumbled across an article where Diane Furstenberg, famous fashion and interior designer was quoted as saying, "Don't fill your space with useless tchatchkis. It will look too cluttered." Too late for me. She went on to say, "Know that your rooms are never done. It's where you live. So there is always more." Isn't that a contradiction? More is more and more is good has always been my motto. I never could abide that famous French architect either, LeCorbusier, who always said, "less is more."

As I continued to organize and find space for my new objects, my sister Julie called. I began to tell her about my cherished Mexican finds and she asked if I had ever watched the reality television show about hoarders. We laughed, but secretly I wondered what the tipping point on collecting things might be? Upon reflection, I know my predilection for collecting began early. My Scandinavian grandmother gave me a small china dog as a birthday present when I was about ten. I loved it so much and began to collect more dogs, so many that my mother said, "I think we should get you a shelf." The beginning of the end.

Scandinavian Grandma collected Royal Doulton figurines and the one that sat on the top of her television had my name written on the bottom of it for as long a I could remember. She would pick it up when I visited her and tell me that it would be mine someday. Today I have collected on my own several Royal Doulton figurines, Doulton dishes and a complete Doulton china tea set.

Upon further reflection, I remembered moving from the bedroom I shared with my sister Cathie to a room in the basement, shortly after my 12th birthday. I was never clear as to why, but now think it might have been that my predilection for collecting meant that there was not much space in our shared room for my poor sister. I took my collections with me when I moved and began to fill up the basement. Today I have filled up the condo with all sorts of collections and objects and it is indeed, as Diane would point out, cluttered. Harry turned out to be a collector of books (escaped academic!) and blue and white English china. We have a room of wall-to-wall books and a china cabinet we had specially made to house the old china from his mother's house in England. Quite the combo in a small condo!

Beyond reflection, objects can give a sense of security that may be lacking in a person's inner reality. My childhood could easily be described as unpredictable, at best. Maybe the objects I collected gave me the sense of order and predictability my reality lacked. Objects don't change in scary ways, they are safe and can be counted on to remain the same.

I do think, however, that there are signs I have reached the decline of my collecting days; and it is not just that we are out of space (even Harry has begun to clear out a few books). I bought a beautiful poster in Mesa Verde displaying magnificent pottery cups made in the ancient Pueblo style that were unearthed at the site of the ancient cliff dwellings. Upon researching the potter who makes these cups today, wanting of course to start a collection, I learned one cup can cost $5oo. Maybe less is more after all, more money in your pocket anyway.

*I told Alexis this week that she and Ivan and Joanna will have to orchestrate quite the garage sale upon our demise. And not to worry kids, I do recycle my People magazines.