Obscura, ecclectic antiques in the East Village

Obscura Antiques and Oddities
280 East 10th Street (near Avenue A)
Everyday 2–8:30 pm, earlier on weekends
212-505-9521

I took these photos last year on a walk through the East Village. Obscura sells "antiques and oddities," heavy on the later. It's a visual treat, although in shops like this I often wonder if the items would look quite as great in my own home. Does a stuffed frog on a hand mirror need a hatted boar mounted nearby to really, you know, resonate?

Obscura has lots of admirers. Apartment Therapy says "there is no odder little store for housewares and accessories . . . it is a treasure trove of obscure, slightly nefarious antiques and collectibles," then went on to admire the store for its collection of old school and desk lamps. MUG noted the two-headed calf that Obscura sold for $3,000, and said it's "our favorite place to buy creepy stuff." Trigger has the best review, calling the shop  "part mad scientist, part Norman Bates. . . . The perfect antithesis of the Sex and the City plague that threatens to gentrify the East Village." Amen.

Comments

I pass there a lot, but never stopped in = thanks for the review and photos - will drop in now when I am in the area.

[Kristi]

Great, let us know what you see and if you actually buy anything.