Babel's Curios in Coogee, New South Wales | Shopping & retail

Babel's Curios

Locality: Coogee, New South Wales

Phone: +61 407 929 326

Address: Ritchard ave 2034 Coogee, NSW, Australia

Website: http://babels-curios.blogspot.com.au/

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• Shopping & retail
• Collectibles shop

25.01.2022 I love creativity. What a pleasure!

24.01.2022 This lovely Belgian #DialTelephone with the brass carry handle and brass dial (circa 1910) was one of the items brought back from a market in Amsterdam. It still has the original plug and its gold lettering.

23.01.2022 Babels Curios which is based at #Lunatiques is also a bit of a modest #art gallery. We offer #OriginalArtworks at #Affordable prices in a variety of media including #pencils, #oils, #watercolours. The collection is an eclectic selection of styles including #Contemporary, #Impressionist, early #20thCentury #ModernArt, #Abstracts etc. The artworks also come a range of sizes and frames.

22.01.2022 #1950s #Chinese #MedicalCharts. Very good condition. Unframed. Provenance: ex Mao and More Emporium.

22.01.2022 4 panel (quadryptich) oil on board painting depicting scenes from #SnowWhite And The #SevenDwarfs . Vintage early part of the 20th century. Also available, separately, the complete set of the seven dwarves figurines (approx. 20cm H each) with full costumes and tools.

22.01.2022 Three examples of the collection of unusual #Chess Sets available at #BabelsCurios (left to right) hand carved and painted timber Russian Imperial theme set; a terracotta Spanish conquistador theme set and a fine delicately carved royal theme set. Other available chess sets include a #Bakelite Chess set; a Carved Pharaohnic themed #Bone Chess set; a #StarWars Characters set and two others.

21.01.2022 People often ask me about how these stamps are used. So here is a small demonstration. We have a few of them at #BabelsCurios in the #Lunatiques centre.

20.01.2022 We look after each other no matter what, right?

20.01.2022 Check out some of our stock of #VintageSuitcases on Instagram! #babelscurios http://instagram.com/p/zRtILFgE-J/

19.01.2022 Chess fiends, I mean friends, try this puxxle! Youre welcome to try it on one of several chess sets on show at Lunatiques.

18.01.2022 This #NewYork #dumpsterdiver has amassed quite a #collection of cool stuff. It reminds me of that old adage one mans #trash is another mans #treasure. But I am also thinking how true it is - the claim that #recycling and #antiques are green.

16.01.2022 Those who know us, know how much we love #ModernArt, especially #AbstractArt, including #AbstractExpressionism. For anyone who shares our passion, this podcast on the #WomenOfAbstractArt who seem to have gone missing in action, deserves and will reward attention.

15.01.2022 I have done #BookRestoration, or should I say repaired, old books. But this takes it up a notch, or two!

15.01.2022 #Eggplant is not only a delicious vegetable, it is also often an intriguing one!

14.01.2022 I had to do a double take before accepting that, yes, the horse was following the route set by his owner Bill Stonnell, leaving Bill free to deliver/sell the bread. Very nice!

14.01.2022 https://instagram.com/p/2hvTHbAE92/?taken-by=babels.curios

14.01.2022 The recent sale of a drawing of Gough Whitlam caused ripples of regret and guilt! Weird right? Not really. Attachment to and even a sense of responsibility for the "welfare" of certain items in the collection, are an occupational hazard in this business. This was one of those nude-ish drawings of politicians that Larry Pickering (former cartoonist with The Australian) used to do for a calendar. It had been in the collection for over a decade. But it was done on butchers paper and was becoming a bit ragged. A young couple came in and were very keen on it. They wanted to get advice on proper conservation and framing. It was sold to them. They want to hang it in their caf in the city. A photo is all thats left apart from visitation rights at the caf.

13.01.2022 https://instagram.com/p/3KPsOAAE6J/?taken-by=babels.curios

13.01.2022 This ruggedly #architechtural item is made of #castiron and is quite heavy. It is approx one metre in length, has a round pan, a long handle resting on 3 sets of wheels. There is a ladle or stirrer. It was described to me as a #MiddleEastern #cooking/ #baking instrument. I can see it being rolled in and out of the fire of an oven or hearth. Although I have doubts as to the middle-east attribution. I have searched the net using words as well as images and got some close hits but not the same, certainly nothing with wheels. Be that as it may, I can see it as part of #kitchenDecor, a #RestaurantProp, a dining room or a #GardenFeature.

12.01.2022 #Amsterdam is a really nice town to see great art (hello!), magnificent #antiques shops (see photos) like we used to have on Queen St, Woollahra in Sydney as well as open air markets which were mostly as youd expect. But some of the dealers stocked some really cool European bric-a-brac some of which came back in the luggage. A similar story in Paris and Berlin although the markets there were much bigger than in Amsterdam. Separate statuses later..

12.01.2022 Lots of clever things to make with palm leaves!

12.01.2022 Elements of Easter: Mixed Media

11.01.2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/BB3PTwkgE79/

10.01.2022 So, you wont have any #clutter in your life? #Mementos, keepsakes, souvenirs, evidential records, photos, #memorabilia, published works, #artworks, family jewels? How much is too much or how little is too little? What is history, biography, #memory? So who are you and why?!

10.01.2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/BBw5FfZAE5f/

09.01.2022 #CaveatEmptor and #AsIs Hands up those who know what these phrases mean. In this business it is best for everyone to understand their rights. According to Wikipedia, "As is is a legal term that denotes that the seller is selling, and the buyer is buying an item in whatever condition it presently exists, and that the buyer is accepting the item "with all faults", whether or not immediately apparent. This is the classic Caveat Emptor or buyer beware situation, where the ...careful buyer should take the time to examine the item before accepting it, or obtain expert advice. "On the other hand, the phrase as is does not disclaim express warranties, such as those created by the sellers description of an item. In other words, the item may be sold as is, but if the item does not conform to the sellers description, the buyer has a right to reject it." Dude, who sold you that apple?

08.01.2022 This is a hand-knotted, naturally dyed, red on white ground Bedouin carpet. It measures 2.74 metres x 2.75 metres. It features mid-stripe tasseling. Suitable for floor or wall. Provenance: acquired by the current owner directly from Bedouin carpet makers on the outskirts of Cairo (Egypt) in 1996 where it was in use by the weavers family. Two Morroccan tent walls are made of heavy duty double sheeted cotton. The panels alternate in red and green with yellow applique on one s...ide and plain white with black applique on the other. The panels are seamed in traditional motif ribbon. The seams hide holsters at regular intervals to allow timber inserts with stake like feet to enable the tent wall to stand its ground. Each wall measures 1.8 metres in height by 6 metres in length. They are used in ceremonial occasions such as weddings etc. Provenance: acquired by current owner from an interior design and props manager. See more

08.01.2022 I love creativity. What a pleasure!

07.01.2022 http://instagram.com/p/zYm9s4gE6D/

07.01.2022 Ever risked dropping everything you carry by carrying too much? Trying to carry everything in one trip rather than two? Doesnt everyone? But its not laziness. No really, its a more efficient, better use of ones time. It also impresses other people showing how strong and polydexterous we are. It usually works but you cant always account for the unexpected. Such as when the bottom falls out of the box you thought would handle the excessive load. Or when the flimsy bulgin...g plastic bag you hoped would not tear before you reached your destination, does tear. Or when we trip because we cant see anything below the horizon. Or when a stack that looked like the leaning tower of Pisa ends up stacking it. When the worst does befall, its not pretty. It can take up to 400% more time to right the wrong than it would have if the load had have been carried it two trips. Picking up all the un-insured broken stuff you spent years collecting can be heart breaking - damn, is that the Qing dynasty bowl in a bejillion pieces? You get the picture? No, no I mean can you pick up the torn Picasso, I dont think I can carry a single thing more!!

07.01.2022 What does Peter Allen, the Boy From Oz, have to do with Babels Curios? Well you may ask. In case youve just returned from 7 years in Tibet, Peter Allen is the guy who happily goes to Rio but Still Calls Australia Home. Here is a link to some of the many hit songs he has written. https://www.youtube.com/watch Anyway, Channel 7s TV biopic is #PeterAllenNotTheBoyNextDoor. Their production team paid a visit to Lunatiques and hired quite a few pieces including this chair from Babels Curios.

05.01.2022 #Halloween Special Please make sure you: 1. wash and peel the #onions first 2. double dip in #chocolate for a thick coating... 3. this is an #AdultsOnly treat 4. offer ice cold water as a chaser (and tissues if required) 5. be prepared to move interstate See more

05.01.2022 We wish that we had a dozen of these gorgeous (though dangerous looking) toasters! But we dont. However, we at Babels Curios love interesting vintage and antique equipment. Its time we introduced some from the collection..Watch this space.

05.01.2022 Check out our Instagram! https://instagram.com/p/2IFJzPAE8S/

04.01.2022 Vintage #Rosaries from France, Italy and Jerusalem. Varying sizes and detailing. Seen here next to a 40cm ruler. https://instagram.com/p/37WpH0gEwB/

04.01.2022 #Halloween Special Please make sure you: 1. wash and peel the #onions first 2. double dip in #chocolate for a thick coating... 3. this is an #AdultsOnly treat 4. offer ice cold water as a chaser (and tissues if required) 5. be prepared to move interstate See more

03.01.2022 Charles and Ray #Eames are the designers behind many of the most iconic design objects of the early part of the 20th Century. They are perhaps best known for their furniture especially #chairs. Many of their pieces were designed for manufacturer #Herman Miller. Their products were made to last, keep on looking good throughout their life, be ergonomically sound and safe to use, be easily repairable and inexpensive to make. History shows that they were successful on all counts. However, ever since licences opened up, all their designs became fair game for other manufacturers to replicate these creations. Some are excellent others are plain nasty. If you are interested in #Eames designs and their philosophy this video is not a bad introduction.

01.01.2022 Every little bit helps.