Geneva Addison

Eclecticism is my aesthetic maxim. Design is in my DNA. Curios and charming vignettes cause me to catch the vapors. This might explain my new infatuation, Geneva Addison. Of two minds about writing this review I fully intend to return to purchase everything they ever offer for sale and I do not need any competition. However, that would not be fair.
Passing this bijou store as I walk between a weekly meeting and Whole Foods market I always slow my pace to view their striking window displays, which seem to morph from one visit to the next. Initially I wasn’t sure what they were as I would peep in — Antiques shop? Jewelry store? Bohemian treasure trove? Displaced Rive Gauche boutique? Finally, last week I went in. (Actually, this is a challenge as the door puts up staunch resistance, but a vigorous shove and I was inside.)
Be still my beating heart!
Appointed with impeccably mismatched display cases and the occasional errant taxidermy specimen, I do not know how to accurately classify this shop as it is the inspired repository for the whimsy and exceptional eye for design of one Geneva Addison (who apparently likes to scour every flea market from Paris to Alameda). A family operation, Geneva’s delightful (and beautiful) sister is front-​line defense to questions such as «what in the world is this», «where did you ever find this» to «do you have more…» as well as those of provenance and price. Geneva Addison is brim full of marvelous and unusual examples of ephemera, tableware, notions, collectibles, miniatures, and many, many sparkly things.
Geneva Addison cannot be adequately described in writing so to illustrate, I offer this random list of items seen during my visit:
* Scientific chemistry glass
* Gilded insects
* Antique bottles
* Esoteric illustrations
* Gorgeous jewelry (from Victorian to contemporary)
* Beads, buttons and baubles
* One of a kind notions and some tassels
* Janice Joplin’s collection of Peking glass «droplets»
* Skeleton keys — Lots of them
* Teeny bottles
* Cloches (bell jars) from small to sizable
* One human hair locket
* Vintage «Educational Charts»
* Insect specimens (under glass)
* Doll parts
* Antique postcards
… everywhere I turned, something caught my fancy and at one point, I heard myself actually exclaim «Oh… Shiny!»