The Curious Collection: A Writer's Obsession with Morbid Curiosities

I’ve always had a bit of a knack for collecting things. Most folks stick to stamps or coin. But I’m not most folks. For me, I’ve always been drawn to the more… Unconventional. The kind of stuff that makes your parents raise an eyebrow or two. Taxidermy, vintage medical equipment, and other morbid curiosities. While these items might prevent me from getting a second date with a special someone, they bring a strange warmth to my soul and child like smile to my face. So, humour me, if you will, as I share with you some of the items I have obtained over the years. Or should I say: brace yourself as I give you a glimpse into my world of morbid curiosities.

WHAT THE HELL ARE MORBID CURIOSITIES?

I appreciate that the term ‘Morbid Curiosities’ might be a little too vague for some people. But for myself, Morbid curiosities are, in essence, items that are associated with death or the macabre. They can be anything from vintage medical equipment to coffin nails. What sets them apart from your regular antiques and artefacts is their eerie or unsettling nature. And this makes them a little harder to find and in turn, makes them more valuable to collectors. These objects provide us with a window into the past and a glimpse into the human experience. They offer us a tangible connection to the darker parts of our history that lots of people like to ignore. And that’s usually because they are a reminder of our own mortality.

Some of the items in my collection, such as a two-headed chick or a vintage prosthetic arm, may seem bizarre or even disturbing to some. However, I find them fascinating. Each item holds its own unique story. So, let’s go on a little trip and let me show you a few of the items in my collection of morbid curiosities.

A BRIEF LOOK INTO MY COLLECTION

While I won’t give you an extensive look into my collection, I do think it’s worth noting some of the more prominent pieces I have. Starting with this unique piece of taxidermy.

These two crows (who have been ethically sourced) were paired together with a handmade piece of gallows. The noose itself isn’t usable, and instead of being made with a single piece of rope, it has been made with two separate pieces (minimizing any chance of the owner trying to take their own life with it).

This is definitely one of the more expensive pieces in my collection. At present, they are proudly displayed on the wall of my home studio where I write my works and live stream from.

And as you will soon learn, I tend to name certain items. In this instance, the crow on top of the gallows is named ‘Sheryl’, and the crow at the bottom of the gallows is named ‘Russell'.

Next is a set of coffin nails that were obtained when a cemetery was relocated.

Due to our mortal enemy known as ‘entropy’, some of the coffins that needed to be relocated were nothing more than a distant memory. However, some of the nails remained and are now in my collection.

This particular set consists of twelve nails, each one retaining its patina. I’ve had a couple of friends suggest to me that I should have them cleaned up and turned into necklaces. To me, that though is sacrilege. Their rust and decay are a part of their charm (not to mention that they still carry some of the dirt from the grave they were retrieved from).

While the coffin nails do fall under the category of ‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’ I find that my next item gets that reaction the most.

Whatever it is,What you are looking at is a one-of-a-kind lamp. This hauntingly beautiful piece has been put together using the skull and spinal column of a roe deer. And even though the deer in question was male, I decided to name him ‘John Doe’… Nothing like a bit of gallows humour to see you through the day, huh?… If you’ve ever seen me appear on live streams or podcasts, then chances are you have seen him sitting in the background somewhere.

While most of my other ‘morbid curiosities’ are frowned upon, John is the one that is responsible for me receiving messages from strangers asking if they can buy him off of me. To which the answer will always be ‘no’. the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Last but not least, is a personal favourite of mine.

This item is a vintage woman's prosthetic arm circa 1950. I found it for sale in an online store, and while it was a little too pricey for my blood, I just had to have it. I can’t explain what it is about this item that I love. All I can say is the moment it arrived at my home, I couldn’t help but smile. I wish I knew the story of the person this prosthetic was made for, but sadly I do not.

While this item is from a bygone era of the previous century, its condition is immaculate. The detailing on the hand is subtle but divine, and as a whole, it gives us an interesting insight into how prosthetic appendages were made back in the 50s.

YES, BUT WHY?

It goes with out saying that the question of ‘why?’ is the most frequently asked question I get in relation to my macabre collection. And I guess it’s a mix of fear and fascination.

Everyone fears dying. Show me someone who says that they are not and I’ll break down why that statement means that they are. But the best way to get over a fear is to try and understand it the best to the best of your abilities. In other words, face it. When I see my Coffin nails, it’s a reminder that life is short and precious. When I see some of the pieces of taxidermy that I own, it’s a reminder that life is beautiful. Even though taxidermy animals are no longer alive (and I much prefer animals to be alive) they are positioned in a way that make s them appear alive. Showing us parts of their personalities that we may have overlooked while they were alive.

And when I see items such as a vintage prosthetic arm, it reminds me of how lucky I am. I could be feeling deflated or blue on any particular day, but at least I still have my appendages. Life wouldn’t be the same if I lost any of them, and considering I need my hands to write and play music, I’m pretty damn lucky that I still have them.

These items may be unsettling to some, but if you look a little closer, they do show us all that beauty, and hope can be found in the darkest of places. A theme that often appears in my work.

THE CRIES AND WOES

As you can probably imagine, collecting and maintaining my collection of morbid curiosities isn’t exactly easy. Some items are easy to look after. For example: with taxidermy, you need to make sure that you dust them and don’t touch them with your bare fingertips. Which sounds easy enough but have you ever tried dusting a hedgehog or crow?… I thought not.

And while you can easily display some items, there are a few items that will have a better chance of survival if you hide them away instead of exhibiting them for the world to see. However, these trials and tribulations are fairly trivial in comparison to the reception you may receive from others.

It’s not uncommon for some people out there to vocalize their disdain. And when this happens, they do not glide silently into the night. It’s harsh, it’s aggressive and it usually comes from a place of ignorance.

People are very good at assuming that I must be some sort of psychopath or serial killer (which couldn’t be further from the truth). Unfortunately, when someone is coming at you with animosity towards your interest and collection, there is no reasoning with them. They simply aren’t listening, and they don’t want to hear what you have to say. They have made their mind up and decided to block themselves off from learning valuable information… Their loss, not mine.

WHAT ARE THE LIMITS?

Let me be crystal clear: There is NOT and the never will be anything in my collection of morbid curiosities that is illegal. All the items in my collection 100% legal to own and obtain. I say this because you while collecting morbid curiosities is not as popular as other forms of collecting, it can be expensive. And as we all know, there are plenty of people in the world who will happily abandon their conscious just to gain a large sum of money… Hell, some people will abandon their conscious just to gain an extra penny. This means that you will, from time to time, come across people who will either offer you something that doesn’t exist or they will offer you something that is not legal. So you have to be careful and do your research.

For example: All of the taxidermy I own has been ethically sourced. If it is possible, I will speak to the taxidermist themselves and ask for evidence as reassurance. I will never purchase or obtain a piece of taxidermy where the animal has been killed for the purpose of a trophy or taxidermy.

And if anyone was to offer me an item for my collection that is illegal, I would have no qualms about reporting them to the authorities and not lose a wink of sleep over it.

WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?

Collecting Morbid Curiosities is not like collecting comic books. I don’t always have money to spend on items for my collection. However, from time to time I might find myself in a position where I do have a small bit of change to spend on a new inclusion to my collection, or I might come across an offer that is too good to be true (like when I bought a coffin… but that’s a story for another post).

Some people collect as an investment with the intention of selling items from their collection at a later date for a higher price. But when it comes to my morbid curiosities, I have no interest in selling them. Nor do I have any interest in obtaining so many items that I can’t move in my own home for lack of space.

I have no doubt that I will add a few more items to my collection at some point. I’m just not in a rush to get them now. Especially as I love my collection the way it is, and I’m very happy to have these items in my life.

Before I leave you, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a moment to sign up for my mailing list. Just scroll to the bottom of this page, fill out the form and hit the submit button. If you do, then as a token of my appreciation, you’ll receive a FREE PDF of the first issue of ‘ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER’. A four-part mini-series that sees the infamous Butcher Of Plainfield tackling his inner demons seven years after his death so that he can return a deranged demon back to Hell before it’s too late!

I hope to see you again soon. Until then, take care of yourselves and remember: Don’t be afraid of the shadows. That’s where the unusual resides!