Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the week: How Odd, Perry Road
Squeezed inconspicuously between a barbers and a recently-closed violin shop on Perry Road, How Odd showcases an impressive collection of the “weird, macabre and unusual”.
Since 2005, How Odd has been buying and selling “oddities and curiosities” from across Europe.
The antique shop contains an abundance of eccentric items to indulge in.
is needed now More than ever
This includes a 19th century French crucifix, a napoleon death mask and even a taxidermy moray eel.
A large arrange of antique goods – photo: How Odd
Mel Riley, who took over the shop 15 years ago, explained how she became interested in antiques and taxidermy.
She said: “Well my mum was an antique dealer as well, and she use to take me to antique fairs, and one day I came back, I saved up all my pocket money and bought this horrific, falling apart taxidermy puffer fish.
“She was absolutely horrified. All the things to choose, and that’s where I started. So I carried on from there.”
Mel and her mum decided to go into business together since her mum had just retired.
She said: “We decided that we’d open up an antique shop together because we both has an interest in it … before that it was a violin shop”.
Since then, How Odd has been selling antiques and taxidermy in their shop, at markets across the UK and on their Etsy.
A wall in How Odd covered in antique oddities – photo: Ella Ritchie-Dickson
Stepping foot into How Odd feels like a step into the past, encircled by cabinets and mountings of peculiarities. There are endless items to lose yourself in.
When you speak to Mel, its quickly clear that there’s a story behind every item there.
Some were traded with other collectors, some were found in collections, and some were from flea markets.
With contacts from all across Europe, How Odd is able to acquire distinctive, eccentric items.
When asked about the most interesting item she’s had, Mel explained it was “A Fijian mermaid … it was a side show circus thing which has the body of a fish and the head of a monkey or cat stuck together as though they were, like, advertising it as a mermaid … It was probably about 50 years old.”
Taxidermy mice sold at How Odd – photo: How Odd
How Odd is a goldmine for anyone interested in one of a kind, irreplaceable items.
In some ways, How Odd feels like a museum encompassing everything that’s macabre and uncanny.
In their glass displays, How Odd showcases anything a collector would need – from artworks, to books and candles.
Their walls are mounted with bones, taxidermy animal heads and antlers.
The antique shop has something for everyone.
With its wide range of curios, How Odd is able to attract even the unlikeliest of customers.
Mel explained to Bristol24/7 that she has a wide range of guests there, including regulars. “I get everyone, from the little kids looking at the sharks teeth, like skeletons for a doctors office, that sort of thing”, she said.
She also explained that she has lots of students coming in, and that she’d recently sold a huge pair of buffalo horns to a group for their new house.
Some of the items on display at How Odd – photo: Ella Ritchie-Dickson
Looking around the shop, it’s abundantly clear how passionate Mel is about antiques. The extensive and comprehensive collection displays her zealous for collecting unique items.
She explained that for her, it’s not just a collection.
She said: “It’s preserving history, its recycling – it’s the best way of recycling anything.
“It’s an investment, definitely, but surround yourself by the things you love, not just to fill a wall”.
How Odd displays how decorating with antiques can make houses unique and enthralling, with each item being a piece of history.
With the range of customers How Odd attracts, the shop can be seen as aiding in a resurgence in demand for antique goods.
“I think there’s more of a market for all the taxidermy and the gothic stuff coming back”, Mel said.
How Odd Bristol, 10 Perry Road, BS1 5BG
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