There is something new today in the sun, rather ancient” (John Pastures)
Strolling on Sunday through the streets of your city, sometimes you find fascinating markets set up by enthusiasts and hobbyists.
On a stall you see an old wooden model of a toy car. “I had it too” – you exclaim aloud. “How much does it cost?” And so two minutes later that item is yours. The border between past and present is getting thinner, finally that dear toy that belonged to you is back in your hands. Indelible memories immediately come to mind: even the smell of the wood of your little car reminds you of the innocent laughter of you children, the sweet atmosphere of home, the peace.
You have just discovered the pleasure of buying things dear to your soul.
So you start looking for other objects: perhaps postcards from your country, glimpses of real life, streets that have now changed, or the book that your mother used to read to you before sleeping, a record of fairy tales, an old record player. Go around the markets of used things, looking for the objects of your heart and you will spot others and still others that ignite your curiosity, which are pieces of history: the first edition of an ancient book, the original article of the moon landing, a rare coin.
And so from one treasure that you had found you pass to two, there is no two without three and in a few years here you are, rich kings with priceless treasures, heritage of a past that has never been forgotten.
Objects that will give you unimaginable pleasure.
So you started collecting.
Collecting means above all safeguarding the cultural wealth of our past.
It is a mistake to think that a collection worthy of being called such is only one made up of very rare books or unique and expensive objects: even business cards or advertising postcards can constitute, if intelligently collected, interesting and sought-after collector’s items.
“>The collection idea is the soul of an ambitious project by Guillermo del Toro ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’, the TV series aired by Netflix, at the end of October and still among the top of the charts, a series that includes eight episodes linked in one way or another to the idea of Wunderkammer. What is a Wunderkammer? Translated from the German a “chamber of wonders”. The stories of the series revolve around precious objects hidden by a now deceased owner in a cabinet of curiosities, a solid wood wardrobe with dozens of secret compartments: there are rare and cursed books, a mysterious pendant, a sword, some paintings.
Unique, curious, original objects that collectors, antique dealers and enthusiasts around the world find on trips or flea markets and collect. In a Wunderkammer it is possible to find books, fossils, corals, globes, precious stones, insects, stuffed colorful butterflies, astrolabes and carved wooden objects, rare stones, terracotta or crystals, all collected for the sole purpose of conserving and collecting in one room treasures human knowledge.
To this singular collection, the enthusiasts already in the 16th century, they dedicated entire rooms of the house, shelves and furniture organized for display, in solid wood with secret drawers: the ‘cabinet of curiosities’.
Today this passion for collecting is trying to flourish again, bringing back the splendid nature that nature offers us and putting it on display in our homes.
In his Bleak House, in California, his house of wonders, the actor del Toro collects all the curiosities and memorabilia; there are thirteen libraries, statues of his idols, Poe and Lovecraft for example, and all kinds of rarities on the world of literary and cinematic horror.
Each of you, having identified a theme, will be able to follow a path that will lead him little by little to put together a collection and create his own “personal museum” to show to friends and why not, also consider it a clever economic and cultural investment.
Italy has remained far behind in this field and the time has come to start making up for lost time.
Investing in culture is the best investment you can make for your life, hobby or profession.
Collecting also allows you to have contacts and exchanges with other collector friends, have one more topic to discuss and explore, broaden your horizons, experience the joy of finding the piece that was missing and that you have been looking for for some time! Collecting means above all to satisfy one’s soul.
So why not start looking around and looking for rare items markets in your city? Objects from Wunderkammer full of mystical charm, such as ancient books dedicated to mysteries, objects related to Freemasonry and those that tell the story of ancient Egypt, spiritual objects.
Old masks worn for ancient rituals, the first photographs of the Earth seen from space, taken in the 1960s, postcards, books with fantastic illustrations, true works of art. They are all objects that also live through their stories. For about twenty years in the States, collectors have preferred “oddities”, a discourse closely linked to the world of the macabre. Some people only collect human skulls, or weapons used by serial killers. 
To each his own collection.
I hope you can discover the pleasure of discovery and as you walk slowly through the streets of markets used by collectors you will notice that the present time will seem to flow slowly, the past will seem to have passed too quickly and collecting will serve you to remember and retain emotions that heal the soul.
“Blessed are the moments, the millimeters and the shadows of the little things”
(Fernando Pessoa)
Hunting for Treasures, Dates and Places:
Piazza Garibaldi, historic center of Castiglione Olona, inside fifteenth-century courtyards
– Sunday 4 December from 9.00 to 18.30 the great “Fiera del Cardinale”
Corner dedicated to vinyl in the Doro courtyard in via Roma
60 exhibitors
– Sunday 11 December from 10.00 to 20.00 the “Christmas Market”.
For more information: comune.castiglione-olona.va.it
Culture Office: tel. 0331.858301 / email: mercatono@comune.castiglione-olona.va.it
December 1, 2022
Bergamo, Piazza degli Alpini – 30 exhibitors
December 1, 2022
Milan, Veronica Sacchi Onlus Association (AVS), via Don Luigi Guanella 11
December 1, 2022
Milan, Corso di Porta Nuova 32
December 1, 2022
Milan, Via Palestro, Indro Montanelli Gardens
December 1, 2022
Milan, Piazza Duomo
December 1, 2022
Monza, Piazza Giosuè Carducci
December 2, 2022
Bergamo, Piazza degli Alpini – 30 exhibitors
December 2, 2022
Milan, Veronica Sacchi Onlus Association (AVS), via Don Luigi Guanella 11
December 2, 2022
Milan, Corso di Porta Nuova 32
December 2, 2022
Milan, Via Palestro, Indro Montanelli Gardens
December 2, 2022
Milan, Piazza Duomo
December 2, 2022
Monza, Piazza Giosuè Carducci
December 3, 2022
Bergamo, Piazza degli Alpini – 30 exhibitors
December 3, 2022
Milan, Veronica Sacchi Onlus Association (AVS), via Don Luigi Guanella 11
December 3, 2022
Milan, Corso di Porta Nuova 32
December 3, 2022
Milan, Baggio, via Seguro 111 – 30 exhibitors
December 3, 2022
Milan, Via Palestro, Indro Montanelli Gardens
December 3, 2022
Milan, Piazza Duomo
December 3, 2022
Milan, piazza Sant’Eustorgio – 25 exhibitors
December 3, 2022
Monza, Piazza Giosuè Carducci
December 3, 2022
Romano di Lombardia, Historical Center – 70 exhibitors
December 3, 2022
Segrate, via XXV Aprile, Largo Carabinieri d’Italia, Piazza San Francesco – 35 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Bergamo, Piazza degli Alpini – 30 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Breno, second-hand, art & ingenuity markets, piazza G. Ronchi (piazza Mercato) – 40 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Castiglione Olona, historic center – 90 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Cinisello Balsamo, via Frova, sports hall parking lot Salvador Allende – 40 exhibitors exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Cinisello Balsamo, via Frova, Palasport car park – 40 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Corsico, “Fleas … and not only!”, via Togliatti – 200 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Costa di Mezzate, Cascina Fuì – 60 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Milan, Veronica Sacchi Onlus Association (AVS), via Don Luigi Guanella 11
December 4, 2022
Lodi, piazza Castello, viale Dante – 70 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Mantua, Piazza Virgiliana – 60 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Martinengo, historic village, under the medieval arcades – 60 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Milan, Corso di Porta Nuova 32
December 4, 2022
Milan, Baggio, via Seguro 111 – 30 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Milan, Via Palestro, Indro Montanelli Gardens
December 4, 2022
Milan, Piazza Duomo
December 4, 2022
Milan, via Brera – 25 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Monza, Piazza Giosuè Carducci
December 4, 2022
Orzinuovi, “The Square of Ancient Treasures”, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II – 60 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Pavia, Alley of viale Giacomo Matteotti – 25 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Pavia, “Mercato Pavese dell’Antiquariato”, viale XI February, historic center (Castello Visconteo) – 60 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Roncadelle, Optical Cone Park, via Amendola – 200 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Sabbioneta, via Gonzaga and piazza Ducale – 100 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Sesto San Giovanni, via Alberto Falck – 70 exhibitors
December 4, 2022
Under Monte Giovanni XXIII, “Mercatino dell’Antiquariato”, historical centre, piazza Caduti, via 4 Novembre – 50 exhibitors
Christmas hunting for treasures in the streets of our cities