Dear reader,
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Undermere Herald - the most trustworthy news source for Undermere and its surroundings. In today’s edition, we will delve into the archaeological offerings of the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum and introduce one of the town’s most sought-after tradespeople: the Thaumaturge, Eli White.
Visiting the Pitt Rivers Museum:
As John and I live in different parts of the UK, it's sometimes a challenge to get together for anything work-related. The item designs have been one of the biggest challenges for us on Strange Antiquities, so we felt there was a good opportunity for us to get out of the office and go for a field trip!
We’re lucky enough to live within a couple of hours of some excellent museums, including everything that London has to offer, so we were spoiled for choice, but the one that excited us the most was Oxford’s unique Pitt Rivers museum. It has an amazing collection of trinkets, curiosities, and artefacts from all over the world, all piled high in glass cabinets with handwritten labels, and mostly all in one big room. It’s very Strange Antiquities.
Going to Oxford also meant that we got two museums for the price of one – the Ashmolean is just down the road from the Pitt Rivers and is equally stuffed full of treasures. We had a great trip and came back buzzing with inspiration.
Image 1. A silvered, stoppered bottle said to contain a witch.
Image 2. The stacked cabinets of the Pitt Rivers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Meet the Shopkeeper:
Unlike in Strange Horticulture, you are not the owner of the shop in Strange Antiquities. That role belongs to Eli White, local Thaumaturge and collector of Objects. Objects that to the untrained eye may appear dull and lifeless, but that in the right hands, and armed with the right knowledge, can be a gateway to so much more. For Eli, the quest to unearth and understand each new Object has been the driving force of his adult life.
As his apprentice you still have a lot to learn, but when Eli is called away to help with an important matter, he reluctantly leaves you in charge. He is a stern master who knows first-hand what can happen if the right precautions are not taken. He doesn’t tend to show much emotion, but he does have a more tender side – a side that is mostly reserved for the store’s cat, Jupiter.
Image 3. Eli White – the Thaumaturge
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