Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Lost on eBay...


Here's another sad post about something I didn't win on eBay. What the hell is this, you ask? I think it's a tiny taxidermied ermine pin. (But it's five iches high, and aren't ermines more ferret-size?) The auction said they were very fashionable for women to wear on their shoulders in New York City in the 40's. Anyway, I failed to place the winning bid at a whopping $43, which would have been a ridiculous price as I guess I can't really imagine wearing this out in public, you know, pinned to my coat or whatever. I know taxidermy is hot right now but I feel like other people would judge me.Anyway, it's a real holdout from a time when people used to wear fur stoles with the heads and tails and feet still attached, draped over their shoulder as a point of pride. It's seems really unethical or something today, but it's not any less ethical than wearing fur in general, and is certainly more so than buying a new garment made of fur (which I wouldn't do.) But this bizarre pin was not destined to be mine, and I cannot help but wonder who exactly is buying these things, along with the 1920's wool bathing suits that are going for hella money these days.

6 comments:

Simone said...

i blame the steampunks! steeeeeampunks! what a shame, that bizarre thingy would have made a fine addition to one's wunderkammer.

Mary said...

i'm planning on doing a steampunk themed post soon. did they just come out of nowhere or what?

Simone said...

All I knows is that I first heard of these "steampunks" about a month ago when gaby and I were contemplating going to this party, and it said something like "steampunk attire" on the invite. obviously, we didn't go.

Julia said...

i know this makes me out to be very old and out-of-touch, but could you please tell me what steampunks are?

are they rawkish young types who never leave the house without first pressing their clothes? are they ironing-obsessed? or are they humid, sweaty food-not-bombs types?

Celia Pleete said...

Good lord. I had a 1940s stole with little feet and the heads attached, and the clip was the mink's mouth. I called it The Talky Fur.

Mary said...

i remember my mom having those stoles around when i was a kid and i had no idea what the hell was going on with them. i still don't really know.