The left part of your shop is dedicated to antiques, and the right part to younger vintage items. What characteristics must the objects have in order to exhibit them in this corner? These objects must be recognizable as typical and attractive in a certain period. People like to reach for them, because they trigger...
The left part of your shop is dedicated to antiques, and the right part to younger vintage items. What qualities must the objects have in order to display them in this corner?
These objects must be recognizable as typical and attractive in a certain period. People like to reach for them because they evoke nostalgia and are useful at the same time. Lately, retro/vintage are coming back into fashion and younger generations are asking and looking for objects from the second half of the 20th century. For young people, this is already a thing of the last century, and the elderly are surprised that young people now buy "these eggs" (laughs).
And what are "these eggs" that the younger generations are currently looking for from you?
Oscar de la Renta glasses from the 70s are the most sought after here. Once we found a box of original glasses in an attic and we made an Oscar de la Renta party on Trubarjeva. Then there are favorites for young people: the vintage Rex chair, Meblo's lamps, Marilyn Monroe pictures, Vučko, Iskra's phones...
Do you think Iskra's phones still have enough useful value today?
At the moment, landline phones are out of favor mainly due to new technology and more often than not they are sitting on the home shelf for decoration in case someone else besides the interviewer calls. Iskra's phone is still useful in terms of design and technology, but most people no longer use it due to changing habits. The story of Iskra's phone is a good example of how a useful object becomes an antique. It is already the case that the phone has to leave the apartment and then has to win the right of return again. This time in a different function, as a collector's item or decoration. For me personally, he is one of the most beautiful "inpatients" in their century-long history.
Which brands from the former Yugoslavia make you feel nostalgic?
Cockta makes me nostalgic, even though my first Pepsi was... And Elan. We all cheered for Križaj and Stenmark as if we were the owners. The Zastava 750 was our first family car and the Vegeta solved all the problems, even as a welcome bribe at the Czech border. I smoked my first Filter 75 cigarette in the third grade at the top of a tree, and I was fascinated by Mebel's objects, the joy with which they installed colorful ultramodern plastic chandeliers directly above the Biedermeier table in old apartments. Rex was full at that time, Vučko is legendary and red stars were everywhere. Even when I fell off my bike, I saw red instead of yellow stars.
And if you had to single out the three items in the store that have the most value to you?
The first is an original photograph of Marilyn Monroe from 1952 by photographer Ernest Bachrach. The second item is an orange Grundig Phono Boy portable turntable from the 70s that I found at a friend's house in Trieste. The third object is a badge of the Society for the Protection of Animals of Kranjska from 1902, which shows that even then a positive attitude towards animals was evident.
How do you separate kitsch from art?
Guidelines have already been set for classical subjects. Non-classic items, however, are a matter of taste, and if I find something cute, I assume someone else will. Otherwise, kitsch also has some value, it can even be found in museums. Kitsch is good if it relaxes. But who could spend his whole life working with some kind of serious art? Sometimes there must also be a plastic flower in between.
Your favorite corner to browse the past?
At the moment, my favorite is Graz, which still has a real Austro-Hungarian mystique, while Parma in Italy wins among flea markets. England definitely has the most offers, but I would point out Berlin and Paris in the retro scene.
Do you have a favorite corner, restaurant, bar that inspires you or has a special vintage item in the ambiance that we should pay attention to?
In the 1980s, there were Nostalgija type bars in Ljubljana, the work of two designers called Tandar, who impressed me. Today's interiors are dominated by quasi-English inn furnishings or quasi-fashionable baroque, which have nothing in common with the originals. Otherwise, it's hard for me to move away from Trubarjeve. I find everything I need here. Look, these shoes, sweater and pants, I buy everything from my neighbors. I prefer to go to the former Reformer for a coffee because of the interesting people and discussions. Here, at least I'm not worried that someone will "snub" me if I say my opinion (laughs).
