Librairie Alain Brieux, Paris, France

When in Paris last week, I stumbled upon the wonderful Librairie Alain Brieux (mentioned in this previous post). This antique store/rare book shop had a number of extraordinary (if out my price range) artifacts for sale, including, to name just a few: a 1/2 length wax anatomical Venus in a glass case (pictured second from the top); anatomical models rendered in wax and paper-mâché; various skeletal bits; an original poster advertising a popular anatomical museum (5th from the top); medical instruments; rare (and remarkably intact!) optical toy kits; and a wide array of antique medical books with astounding illustrations, which the shopkeeper, who kindly allowed me to take photographs, enthusiastically displayed for me.

Those of you unable to make it to Paris to check out this shop are in luck; Librairie Alain Brieux and some of their best merchandise are coming to New York City for the Antiquarian Book Fair, which will run from April 3-5th at the The Park Avenue Armory. I am promised they will have some really great stuff with them; I, for one, plan to go and check it out!

You can find out more about the book fair (where Alain Brieux will exhibiting in booth B5) by clicking here. To see more photos cataloging the many and various wonders of this shop, click here. You can check out their still-under-construction website, where you an also download PDFs of their catalogs, by clicking here.

Aria Antiques, San Francisco

When I was last in San Francisco, I stumbled upon a rather intriguing looking store called "Aria" tucked among the Italian bakeries and laundromats of North Beach. Sadly, the shop was closed until the day I flew out and I was unable to ever go inside, but I did manage to get some photos of the contents through the shop window. It definitely looks worth a visit--anatomical models, old science posters, taxidermy, decaying housewares...

Aria does not appear to have a website of its own, but here is a writeup from City Search. To see more photos, see this Flickr collection.

"The Papier-Mache Anatomist" Louis Auzoux, Curious Expeditions

Two of my favorite things in one blog post! First, anatomical models, in this case those of Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux. Second, New York City-Based purveyor of hair-art, anatomical prints, and yes, even a life-sized Auzoux anatomical model: Obscura Antiques and Oddities. Check out yesterdays Curious Expiditions post "The Papier-Mache Anatomist" for a great introduction into Auzoux's work and career, as well as a inventory of some of Obscura Antique's many charms.

Above images: Assorted models of Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux, most from the wonderful Phisick Antique Medical Collection website.

Obscura Antiques and Oddities, NYC

Long before Cabinets of Curiosity made their way to Barney's, Damien Hirst unveiled his diamond-encrusted skull, and Marilyn Manson made news for his compulsive collecting of dead children, there was Obscura Antiques and Oddities. Less a store than a museum you can shop at, Obscura, located in the East Village, is, by far, my favorite shop in New York City.

Stock varies, but on a given day, here are some things you're likely to come across: anatomical models, memorial photographs, medical art prints, taxedermied pets, shadow boxes, fraternal organization memorabilia, prosthetic limbs, victorian mourning jewelry, magic lantern slides, collections of pinned insects, funeraral ephemera, stereoscopopic cards, carnival castoffs, two headed fetal pigs, a jar of worms, corsets, top hats, glass fronted cabinets, victorian vitrines ... the list goes on. Don't be intimidated by their celebrity clientele (they feed the habits of The Sedarises and Chloë Sevigny, among others) or the uber-hip east-village customers you might see within; the proprietors are very friendly and extremely knowledgable, and you'll probably leave knowing something you didn't know before. See above photos for details of merchandise over the past few years.