We’ve been to the Birsay/Orkney Antiques Centre many times http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16369
But not since before Covid, and not since Alec changed the name of the shop to ‘The Antiques Emporium’.
The Cambridge Dictionary definition of emporium is …..“A large shop that sells many different types of goods.”
And that’s exactly what it is.
To give some idea of the variety of ‘goods’ on offer, here’s a list of some of the things which Alec had already sold on the day we were there:
A steel cabinet
Some plastic figures of Cowboys and Indians.
A wooden apple.
A German steam engine.
We then bought …
An old Captain’s chair
A Desert Rose
A piece of Smoky Quartz.
An Abalone shell
And……two bowls made from a substance that pre-dates Bakelite….
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/chemistry/age-plastic-parkesine-pollution
There are ‘rooms’ furnished as old fashioned Parlours
There are toys
Tools
Jugs
Egg cups
Fossils
A wise saying carved on an Arts & Crafts style cupboard
And …. A ship in full sail
As we left, I noticed Alec’s individual approach to fencing
All I can say is – go there – browse – talk to Alec and hear some stories.
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