Fact: I collect antique keys. And they make me SO HAPPY!!!
I've been collecting them since I was about... umm... twelve I think. My mom got me hooked on them- you see, she collects antique clocks and teapots, so I spent quite a bit of time browsing through antique shops with her. I don't remember what shop or where, but at one point, I found a large collection of keys- and I was completely fascinated with them. I've been collecting them ever since.
Now that I've been collecting them for quite some time, I realize why I like them so much:
Reason #1: they're small, beautifully crafted, and in a way I find them quite elegant.
Reason #2: Keys used to mean so much more to people. Long ago, a key meant that you owned something. keys were precious! I love owning something that was so prized by someone before me.
Reason #3: They're just so stinkin' cool!
By now I have about 50 keys. That's a lot.
I've found them all over the place: The west coast, Hawaii, Stratford, Chester, Canada, and of course, Utah. They're just little pieces of who I am. :)
That's so awesome! I love antique keys, and I've never really understood why until you articulated your own reasons up there. I used to be obsessed with very small keys...like the kinds for diaries. When I was 7 or so, I stole a little lock and key from Target. I felt terrible but so fascinated by them, and then my mom found out and I felt even MORE terrible and a lot less fascinated, and she made me take them back to Target and apologize. The whole experience was so traumatic that I think it kind of lessened my key enthusiasm for a long long time. But I love that you collect them...I'm really into the idea of "antique key art" (which I've never thought of before but you've inspired me). Antique key mobiles, letter boxes...
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