Creative Collectors

by

Most of our friends are collectors. It starts right in our little circle of the Fab Four of Cley. Dina collects bones in her ossuary and anything to do with seals and hares. Although she actually takes a rather puritanical stance on not collecting anything. Kb collects books relentlessly, so many that when you enter our house, you feel like you’ve stumbled straight into a library. Selma collects curiosities and is particularly proud of her collection of round stones. Siri collects fossils.

Die meisten unserer Bekannten sind Sammler. Das beginnt gleich in unserem kleinen Kreis der „Fab Four of Cley”. Dina sammelt Knochen in ihrem Ossarium und alles, was mit Seehunden und Hasen zu tun hat. Obwohl sie eigentlich der puritanischen Ansicht ist, nichts anzusammeln. Kb sammelt gnadenlos Bücher, so viele, dass man beim Betreten unseres Hauses das Gefühl hat, direkt in eine Bibliothek gestolpert zu sein. Selma sammelt Kuriositäten und ist besonders stolz auf ihre Sammlung runder Steine. Siri sammelt Fossilien.

Dina collects anything to do with grey seals, bones and whatever she finds in nature. We especially love the large seal skulls and bones now to be found in most of our rooms.

There are different types of collectors. Some, like Selma, collect whatever they like. The result is something akin to a cabinet of curiosities or a chamber of wonders, reminiscent of the precursors to modern museums. Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753), for instance, amassed a diverse collection of items ranging from fossils and bones to books. His collection of more than 70,000 objects formed the basis of the British Museum, the Natural History Museum and the British Library after his death. Selma calls him King of Collectors. Dina and Kb hope that she will not be inspired by him to clutter up our house.

Es gibt verschiedene Arten von Sammlern. Einige, wie Selma, sammeln einfach, was ihnen gefällt. Daraus entstehen Kuriositätenkabinette oder Wunderkammern, die als Vorläufer moderner Museen gelten. Ein Beispiel ist Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753), der alles sammelte, von Fossilien und Knochen bis hin zu Büchern. Er brachte es auf über 70.000 Objekte, die nach seinem Tod nicht nur die Grundlage für das British Museum, sondern auch für das Natural History Museum und die British Library bildeten. Selma nennt ihn den „Sammlerkönig”. Dina und Masterchen hoffen, dass sie sich nicht von ihm inspirieren lässt und unser Haus zumüllt.

Siri and Kb love to organise and categorise their collections. For them, organising is almost more important than owning, although it would be dishonest to deny that they take a certain pride in their possessions. They are the kind of collectors who strive for the unattainable ideal of completeness. Their heroes are the naturalist Carl von Linné and, even more so, Vladimir Nabokov, who not only had a heart for Lolita but also for butterflies. He was an obsessive collector of butterflies. He classified them and claimed they were his life.

Siri und Kb lieben es, das Gesammelte zu ordnen und zu kategorisieren. Für sie ist das Einordnen fast wichtiger als das Besitzen, obwohl es geschwindelt wäre, ihnen einen gewissen Besitzerstolz abzusprechen. Sie gehören zu den Sammlern, die das unerreichbare Ideal der Vollständigkeit anstreben. Ihre Helden sind der Naturforscher Carl von Linné und mehr noch Vladimir Nabokov, der nicht nur ein Herz für Lolita hatte sondern auch für Schmetterlinge. Er war ein obsessiver Sammler von Schmetterlingen, die er alle klassifizierte und von denen er behauptete, dass sie sein Leben seien.

Dina is a huge fan of Georgia O’Keeffe

People who display their collections at home either live in an inspiring treasure trove or a chaotic storage room. The trick is to present your collections in an elegant and atmospheric way, rather than piling them up in a messy heap. Like Sloane, Andy Warhol was a collector of everything, particularly kitschy biscuit tins, wigs and Americana – the kitschier the better. Most of the objects in his collection would end up in the bin in our home, yet his collections were sold for millions after his death. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that his collectibles were presented effectively in his Factory.
If you find an empty room inspiring, a home collection may seem confusing, but it inspires the more extroverted, like Warhol, who consciously or subconsciously enjoy it when their collection tells their story.

Wer seine Sammlung zu Hause ausstellt, lebt entweder in einer inspirierenden Schatzkammer oder in einem chaotischen Abstellraum. Die Kunst besteht darin, die Objekte nicht achtlos anzuhäufen, sondern sie anmutig und atmosphärisch zu präsentieren. Andy Warhol, der wie Sloane ein Sammler von allem war, liebte es, kitschige Keksdosen, Perücken und Amerikana zu sammeln – je kitschiger, desto besser. Die meisten Objekte seiner Sammlung würden bei uns auf dem Müll landen, obwohl seine Sammlungen nach seinem Tod für Millionen verkauft wurden. Dennoch können wir nicht abstreiten, dass er seine Sammelstücke in der Factory wirkungsvoll präsentierte.
Wenn Sie zu den Menschen gehören, die von einem leeren Raum inspiriert werden, ist eine Sammlung zu Hause verwirrend. Sie ist jedoch inspirierend für eher Extravertierte wie Warhol, die es mehr oder weniger bewusst genießen, wenn ihre Sammlung ihre Geschichte erzählt.

Private collections often work best when identical or similar objects are presented together to create a particular atmosphere. This is what Dina does with her collection of bones and skulls, just as her hero, Georgia O’Keeffe, did. There may be a primal instinct to collect bones, which have always played a part in rituals and the magical arts. Shells and fossils are also popular collector’s items. However, as Siri points out with shining eyes, it is the magic of age that makes fossils so fascinating. She proudly shows us a crystallised ammonite that has captivated people since time immemorial thanks to its beauty.

Private Sammlungen wirken oft am besten, wenn man viele gleiche oder ähnliche Objekte zusammen präsentiert und versucht, damit eine bestimmte Atmosphäre zu kreieren, was Dina wie ihre Heldin Georgia O’Keefe mit ihrer Knochen- und Schädelsammlung macht. Es mag ein Urinstinkt sein, Knochen zu sammeln, die seit jeher Teil von Ritualen und magischen Künsten sind. Auch Muscheln und Fossilien sind beliebte Sammlerobjekte. Siri betont glänzenden Auges, dass bei Fossilien die Magie des Alters faszinierend ist. Sie zeigt uns stolz einen auskristallisierten Ammoniten, der seit Menschengedenken wegen seiner Harmonie besticht.

Siri’s very own and oh so precious crystallised ammonite.

One might think that collecting is purely about holding on to things. However, collections evolve and change over time. A few years ago, we sorted through hundreds of esoteric books to make room for new acquisitions. Although this was liberating, we always regretted getting rid of other books. Books are a category that we can never quite let go of.

Man könnte meinen, Sammeln sei reines Festhalten. Doch Sammlungen leben und verändern sich. Vor einigen Jahren haben wir Hunderte esoterischer Bücher aussortiert, um Platz für neue Schätze zu schaffen. Bei diesen Büchern war das befreiend, bei anderen Büchern haben wir das Aussortieren hingegen fast immer bereut. Bücher scheinen eine Kategorie zu sein, die uns nie ganz loslässt.

Do you know the bookshelf rule? The concept is straightforward: if you want to add something new to a full bookshelf, you must remove something else. This limitation forces you to consider what you value most.
It can apply to books, clothing, kitchenware or even digital files. We don’t live by it. 😉

Whether bones, fossils, biscuit tins, butterflies, shells or books: collecting is more than a hobby, it is a lifestyle, an expression of personality. And Kb as an author sees himself as a recorder and collector anyway.

Ob Knochen, Fossilien, Keksdosen, Schmetterlinge, Muscheln oder Bücher: Sammeln ist mehr als ein Hobby, es ist eine Lebensart, ein Ausdruck von Persönlichkeit. Und Kb als Autor sieht sich eh als Merker und Sammler.

Happy Collecting
Frohes Sammeln

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂



© text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers & Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2025

138 thoughts

    • Dear Hien

      Indeed, it’s a lifestyle, a lifestyle in an affluent society. But it’s much more, it’s fun, it’s an obsession, and a collection is art.

      Thank you very much
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Jacqui

      First of all, you are very welcome to visit us and stay at our house.

      We are collectors – but it’s funny actually, we like a minimalistic aesthetic. But “two souls, alas, well within my breast” as Faust in Goethe’s drama says. We can’t really decide. We suppose a lot of folks feel this contradiction.

      Wishing you all the very best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Dear friends,
    I love this post! You are very passionate about your collections, it shines through and through. The idea to let the collection be a part of the interior like Dina-Hanne does with the bones is nothing but stunning. I can see why she is taken with Georgia O’Keeffe and her work.

    I’m intrigued that you mention Sir Hans Sloane. On my recent visit to London I stayed at Sloan Square Hotel and was introduced Sir Hans Sloane, a fascinating and a complex character, now generally seen much more critically because of his connections to slavery.

    I bought this book “Collecting the World: The Life and Curiosity of Hans Sloane” – an interesting read.

    Kram
    Annalena xx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Annalena

      If I remember correctly, it was Sir Sloane’s wife having slaves working on her sugar cane plantations.

      I just got the idea that collecting would have been a great topic for Eco. I like his book about lists. Where there is a collection, there is usually a list as well.

      With love from the sea
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Richard

      Thank you very much.

      We are book collectors as well, especially first editions and signed copies by the author.
      To collect vinyl albums is very special, well, for us. We don’t have a record player any longer.

      Alle the very best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I think this is fascinating, and I’m certain I could lose myself for days, poking and looking at your collections! However, I tend to be more of a minimalist and am trying to Donate, Sell, Give Away, or Throw Away things I don’t really need. And since my mom passed away fairly recently, I’ve become the Keeper of the Stuff … much of which needs to be tossed out before I can no longer find my way about the house!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Debbie

      Collections are hell and bliss. Collecting is addictive. Once you have started, you can’t stop. But collections are fun as well, and they keep us busy as a collection is hardly ever finished.

      Thanks for your comment
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I enjoyed your discussion and photos of collecting, Klaus. Although I am not a collector and instead treasure empty space, I always enjoy seeing what others around me collect and embrace. I once saw a display of Chihuly’s collection of accordions and also a neighbor’s collection of Mercedes Benz’s. Now you got me thinking about all the collections (coins, old photos….) I have enjoyed. Dina’s nature and your books are beautiful.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Jet.

      Actually, we love both our collections as well as empty spaces. This creates conflicts quite often, but keeps us from going overboard with our collections. We are indeed a funny mixture. We are minimalists and collectors.

      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Ihr Lieben in Cley, gerne habe ich euren Bericht zum Sammeln im allgemeinen und zu euren persönlichen Kollektionen gelesen. Am besten gefällt mir das Bild, welches die speziellen Stücke von Dina auf sehr geordnetete Art und Weise zeigen! Als Mädchen sammelte ich Briefmarken, die wir von Menschen in unserer Umgebung, bei denen wir läuteten, erhielten. Natürlich fanden wir viele Briefmarken auf der Gemeindeabfallmulde, wo auch die Ratten herumschwirrten! Habt’s gut und cari saluti Martina

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Martina

      Briefmarken sammelten viele als Jugendliche, die wir kennen. Diese Sammelledidenschaft ist an uns vorübergegangen. Dabei lässt es sich mit einer Briefmarkensammlung weitaus leichter leben als mit Bücher- und Knochensammlungen.
      Dass du es auch mit Ratten zu tun bekamst, finden wir ja abenteuerlich.

      Habe vielen Dank.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Guten Morgen, liebe Martina,

      Briefmarken sammeln viele wohl hauptsächlich Jugendliche, eine Sammelleidenschaft, die an uns vorübergegangen ist. Dabei ist mit dem Sammeln von Briefmarken weitaus einfacher zu leben als mit dem von Büchern und Knochen.

      Dass du es da mit Ratten zu tun bekamst, finden wir höchst abenteuerlich. Dagegen ist das Büchersammeln harmlos.

      Mit lieben Grüßen vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Du hast natürlich recht vollkommen recht Klausbernd, aber bei meiner kleinen Geschichte geht es mir mehr darum zu zeigen, wie die Menschen uns damals wirklich halfen, ohne an Zeitverlust oder an ungezogene Jugendliche zu denken, was mich bis heute berührt!
      C.s. Martina

      Liked by 1 person

    • Es ist schon erstaunlich, wie damals die Menschen den Flüchtlingen und Zuziehenden halfen. Das ganze Gegenteil von heute.
      Liebe Grüße
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  14. Klausbernd, I am fascinated by your reflections on collectors. You brilliantly described the treasures each of you gathers, from bones and books to fossils and curiosities. Collections not only preserve objects, but also carry the stories and identities of their keepers.

    I especially appreciated the link to Sir Hans Sloane and the origins of great institutions like the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. Isn’t it interesting how personal passions become part of cultural memory.

    For myself, I collect photographs, beginning with those taken by my father, and I am always trying to make sense of all that has passed. The challenge, as you said so well, is that when we collect too much, we must also curate the collections so they speak with clarity — not only to others, but to ourselves. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, because every photograph brings back a flood of memories. That is why I agree with you: collecting and curating need to go hand in hand. Thank you for this reminder that collections, whether humble or vast, reveal the texture of our lives.

    P.S. I culled my library two years ago and I still am grieving for the loss even though I know the books went to good homes. Sigh….

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Rebecca

      I suppose I am more of a curator than a collector. I love curating, finding an order that makes sense and speaks to us. A collection needs a style; it has to be presented beautifully. Hanne-Dina ordered books following a colour scheme, but Kb didn’t like it, as it makes it harder to find a book. He thinks a collection must be user-friendly as well.

      We suppose it’s not easy to order photographs so that you can easily find a special picture again. The advantage is that such a collection doesn’t need so much space.

      Concerning books: I have the feeling that the minute you give a book away, you desperately need it. The revenge of the books 🙂

      With love to you all from the sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • I agree wholeheartedly Klausbernd!! Curating is as important as collecting, perhaps even more so. A collection does need to make sense and have a style, otherwise it overwhelms rather than inspires. As for books — I confess that I regretted a book that I let go in my recent cull so much so that I went back and bought it again. You are so right: the revenge of books! Sending many hugs to my dear friends The Fab Four of Cley!!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Rebecca
      We have a glorious morning after all this rain yesterday.
      Curating makes a collection important. For us, our book collection has to be user-friendly as well as aesthetically pleasing.
      With big hugs to our dear friends in Vancouver
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I am a collector of books as well. Now that I live in a much smaller house, I must follow your rule, if you want to add something new to a full bookshelf, you must remove something else. I have been quite good at following the rule. (usually)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Darlene

      We are impressed that you can follow the rule of collecting well. Unfortunately, we are not that disciplined.

      Thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Excellent post, Fab Four. Collecting can be so dangerous! I must confess I have a collection of collections – but I really do try to contain myself. I tend not to think of my accumulations of books and vinyl albums as collections, though of course they are that. My most ‘serious’ collection is business cards. I am a member of a group called International Business Card Collectors. We trade cards to/from all over the world. The cards are art, history, typography, graphics, and humor all in one. ~Ed.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Ed

      That is an unusual collection. It’s the first time that we hear about business card collectors and that there is an international group of such collectors. We can immediately see that the different ways people present themselves and their businesses are interesting to see. And such a collection doesn’t take up much space.
      How do you organise your collection?

      Thanks
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear F4C,

      Thank you for asking. I put them in binders, using clear ‘protective sleeves’ that hold as many as twenty cards each. Some cards are two-sided, so there may be less than twenty in a sleeve to make sure both sides are visible. I organize the cards according to various categories; e.g., hotels, restaurants, automotive, tattoo parlors, barbers, medical, or if they picture a certain object or animal like planes, trains, armadillos, elephants, lions, etc. I have 30 binders at the moment – about 3,000 cards. I probably have 100 or more categories. Two of the binders are what I call ‘favorites’ because I particularly like the graphics and colors. ~Ed.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Interesting. That’s a totally unknown world for us. But we can immediately see that it’s interesting to see how people present themselves in different cultures.
      Thanks for giving us some insight into your collections.
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  18. It would be wonderful to visit your home, Klausbernd,! 😍☺️😊🙂I used to be a collector of travel souvenirs and my ceramic painting. I stopped collecting because there’s no space in my new home to display or store them.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  19. I collect jokers from decks of playing cards. A deck of cards is a compact souvenir, so is very easy to transport. You’d be surprised at how the jokers vary from country to country. I’ve been keeping them in sports trading card sleeves, but now, after reading your post, I’m leaning towards using them in some way as decor in our home, so thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Terry

      To collect Jokers is surely interesting. How different cultures see the Joker tells you surely a lot about these cultures.
      We can well imagine that using these cards as some kind of decor is fun.

      Good luck
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  21. The love of reading, the urge to collect beautiful things (in this case) beautiful books, everything also well organized, that is the impression I have when I try to visualize your home. Warm late summer greetings from the Arrow Lakes!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  22. I always say any home without books is a house without a soul.

    I had to rehome most of my book collection when I moved to a smaller apartment and my eyesight declined further, but despite having no room or bookshelves today and inability to read, I still miss my books to this day, especially the mountaineering and philosopy.

    Love the seal paintings. So unique and unusual.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Vicki

      Book collections and reading … We read most of the books we collected, but reading it’s not a criterion for us to collect a book. If we have 3 books by an author, we’ll collect all of his books we find, even if we know we will not read them. Hanne-Dina is different, she collects nature books and only those she will read.

      Thank you.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  23. It’s interesting to know that Selma collects whatever attracts her. But, you organised your collection very well, Klausbernd, like in the museum. Beautiful! The bookself looks inviting, too

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Hazel

      How we present our collections shows perfectly well our personality.
      Every room in our house has a different style, the style of the person living in it.

      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. What an absolutely wonderful post! I would just love to come over at a quiet time-away for you, pour myself either a Tanqueray or a Pimm’s with your permission and spend a few hours looking at your books . . . and the rest . . . used to collect stamps and books myself ways back . . , 🙂 !

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Eha

      We love to sit in our library with a drink, browsing. Next to our conservatory, it’s the most beautiful room. You find books and bones in there.

      Cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I enjoyed this. As always the writing is erudite and far ranging. I enjoyed the Nabokov and Warhol references .I love books too and album covers too. I eagerly peruse the contents of the little street libraries we have in he ‘burbs in the hope I may come across a rarity —

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you, dear John

      We wish you good luck finding a rarity. Wherever we are, we browse bookshops and public bookshelves for rarities. Quite often, we are successful.

      We love Nabokov’s literature and a lot of Warhol’s art.

      Thanks a lot
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Oh my, those bookshelves are heavily loaded! I assume you have given up any vague thoughts about downsizing by now!
    I know the feeling, going out and hoping to find a rarity, something precious, a piece to add to or complete a collection. It makes every walk in nature, along the beach, a visit to an antique or a secondhand shop, a bookshop a small adventure. Thanks for the link to Andy Warhol – the complete collection gained a price no-one had expected.
    Do you have a collection of something where only one piece is missing?
    Klem
    Per Magnus

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Per Magnus

      NO, no downsizing! With all our collections, we can’t move. We suppose we’ll stay here until the end of our lives and go on collecting.

      We found most rarities not so much in second-hand bookshops as in public book shelves in phone boxes, churches, etc.

      Well, to have a collection of Andy Warhol is VERY special and even if it consists of kitschy chocolate boxes. But there you need a lot of space to present them.

      We’ll phone.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  27. Collecting is a wonderful pastime. I have a modest shelving of books on gardening which I enjoy very much. There was (note the past tense) an excellent collection of things that might be useful one day in my garden shed which has now been dispersed (dumped) as the old shed approached collapse and a new one has been erected. I have been told not to being another similar collection in this one! Some people just don’t understand the love one has for collected items. I’m sure the porcelain insulators from an old electricity pole would have found a perfectly admirable use at some stage.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good afternoon, dear Paddy

      We are just renovating an old garden shed, but we will not have books in there as it isn’t dry enough. Books don’t like moisture. Gardening books like art books need special selves as they have big formats and often are quite heavy. We store our gardening books in the house.

      Thanks.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. This post will appeal to many. Some of the bones in that first picture look like faces. I gave up buying books about 15 years ago because I will never have time to read all those I have. I have given away two stamp collections in my life

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Derrick

      We have books not only for reading but for reference, too, and for completeness of a series. And we collect signed books and beautiful books.

      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  29. The museum of Sir John Soane in his London house it a complete joy to explore. One of my favourite ‘unknown’ places in that city. You display your collections beautifully, as with everything else you do.

    Love from Beetley, Pete. x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks a lot, dear Paul 🙏 🙏

      As I wrote Pete, we’ll visit Sir John Soane’s house next time we are in London. We are looking forward to it.

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  31. I have small collections, Starbucks mugs with countries I’ve visited on them, interesting salt and pepper pots, small rocks and minerals from all over the world. My husband collects military books, mostly WW2, and his room is a library, but not as neat and tidy as yours! Love Hanne’s bone collection, beautifully displayed.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Fraggle

      You have interesting collections. Starbucks mugs and salt and pepper pots are unusual. Especially Selma loves unusual collections. Do you present or use them?

      Here in Norfolk, lots of people collect books about WW2. I had a friend who had a whole room full of such books. He was like a dictionary about WW2.

      Thanks & cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Bücher auszusortieren ist eine schwierige Angelegenheit. Wie oft werde ich gefragt, ob ich irgendeines der Bücher denn noch mal lesen werde. Nun ja, sicher nicht alle, aber einige nehme ich immer mal wieder gerne in die Hand. Und dann sind da noch die Bücher, die einfach nur schön sind. Der Einband, die Schrift, die ganze Aufmachung.. Ein Buch besitze ich ich in zwei völlig verschiedenen Versionen: „Das geheime Leben der Bäume“ von Peter Wohlleben. Als ich mit einem Enkel Bücherbummeln war, entdeckte ich es als Graphic Novel und kaufte es mir. Wenige Tage später schickte mir eine Freundin das signierte Buch in der Originalfassung. Und wenn wir ganz ehrlich sind, welcher Raum gewinnt nicht durch Regale voller Bücher?

    Liebe Grüße, Elvira

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Danke, liebe Elvira, du sprichst uns aus der Seele. Wir haben auch einige Bücher in zweifacher Ausgabe. Die eine zum Lesen und Anstreichen im Text, die andere schöne für den ästhetischen Genuss.

      Wir haben keinen Raum im Haus ohne Bücher. Nee, stimmt nicht, The Pantry ist bücherlos.

      Liebe Grüße
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  33. Dear Four Fab of Cley,
    I can fully understand your collections and your wish to have them. At this time of my life, as you know, I collect books and WWII memorabilia. But, in the past there have been many hobbies for me.
    Hope this note finds you all well and happy.
    GP

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  36. As a child, I collected stones and shells, and built glass houses for my collected insects and worms. I kept them alive by trying to feed them and build landscapes for them inside every glass jar. After spending a week together or so, I let them out again to live free. Interesting studies I have had good use for.

    What beautiful bones and beautifully exposed! My daughter also collects bones and sculls – especially from when she was a volunteer in New Zealand.

    I understand you have all your collections well organized and the books neatly in order. Then it is a joy to have them. The system of getting a new thing and taking an old one away sounds good. I have tried…but it doesn’t work for me.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Ann-Christine

      This system with one in > one out doesn’t work for us either. We end up with books in a second row. But we keep the alphabetical order.

      Your glass houses were surely beautiful. Collecting live insects and worms is truly special.

      Thanks. Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Dear Klausbernd, That is fabulous post! “It’s a life style”, well said. These collections tell stories and collector’s passion. Hobby and I had faced the space limitation. So glad to hear Dina is a huge fan of Georgia O’Keeffe. Some years ago, we visited O’Keeffe’s beautiful country in the region in Northern New Mexico.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Amy

      Yes, the space limitation is something every collector is confronted with. Maintaining order in a growing collection is a challenge. It’s easier with bones and fossils because we don’t have as many as we have books.

      Only Hanne-Dina has been in Northern New Mexico. Unfortunately, the rest of us know it only from pictures.

      Thanks for commenting.
      Happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Janis

      We like to enjoy our library civilised with a drink.

      As we live next to the sea, Siri and Selma collect shells and stones as well. We noticed that every visitor to our area collects stones and shells. They seem to say ‘collect me’.

      You have a special Gravatar.

      Thank you very much
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Knochen und Fossilien sprechen auch mich in besonderer Weise an. Allerdings habe ich nur äußerst wenige Exemplare – bin also keine Sammlerin.

    Interessant finde ich Deine Ausführungen zur Präsentation der Sammlung(en). Vielleicht unterscheidet das Sammeln vom Messi-Sein?

    Habt ein schönes Wochenende zusammen.

    Liebe Grüße, Belana Hermine

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Guten Morgen, liebe Belana Hermine

      Das Ordnen einer Sammlung nach bestimmten Kriterien, eben das Kuratieren, macht eine Sammlung aus. Wir geben dir völlig recht, ungeordnete Sammlungen sind einfach nur messihaft. Das ist für uns der Unterschied zwischen einer Sammlung und deiner Ansammlung.

      Auch dir wünschen wir ein frohes Wochenende.
      Mit liebe Grüßen
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  41. I’m fascinated by your collections and your photos and explanation of those who collect. I feel …. differently than I used to about collections after reading this post. Like Jacqui, I’m a minimalist, but I enjoy the collection of others and their passion. I collect words, I suppose, and all of my writing journals. But they are hidden in files and boxes. But they are seen within me.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Everybody collects something that seems to be innate. But there are so many different items one can collect. When Kb was a student, he collected ideas f.e. We suppose it was the relatively big house that made us collect books and bones. We had so much space. It seems to us that empty space attracts to be filled. Nevertheless, we try to combine being minimalists and collectors.

      Thanks for commenting.
      We wish you an easy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • I understand! A good balance. By the way, I should have mentioned that my guy “collects” the Lego projects he makes (these are adult Legos like a Maine lighthouse and the Notre Dame and a NASA rocket, as well as (Lego) orchids and bonsai gardens. They are in prime places throughout our house. ;-0

      Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, we know about this Lego for adults. A friend of ours is studying electronics. He builds the most amazing devices and machines with Lego.

      To present all these Lego projects in your house needs a lot of space, I suppose.

      We wish you a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  42. What a fascinating and beautifully painted portrait of collectors and their worlds! 🌿📚🦴 Each of you brings such individuality to the act of collecting—Dina with her seal skulls and natural treasures, Kb with the ocean of books that turns your home into a living library, Selma with her cabinet of curiosities and round stones, and Siri with her fossils that connect time and eternity.

    I love how you weave personal collections into the larger cultural history of collecting, linking Selma’s passion to Hans Sloane’s “King of Collectors” legacy, and Siri and Kb’s love of order to the timeless precision of Carl von Linné and Nabokov’s butterfly obsession. It’s more than collecting—it’s storytelling, memory-keeping, and an act of giving meaning to objects that might otherwise be overlooked.

    Your circle feels like a living museum, where every collection is both deeply personal and part of a greater human tradition of curiosity and wonder. ✨

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  43. It’s always fascinating to hear what other people collect. We’re a collector of family furniture, mementos and other treasures that have been passed down generation to generation. They are proudly on display in our house and help keep their memories alive.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Linda

      That makes sense to keep up a connection to the past of your family. We suppose it’s very cosy to live with your family’s furniture.

      Thank you very much for commenting.
      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much, dear Roberta.
      We find it very exciting that you collect banned books. We suppose we have only two banned books in our collection. Actually, we only know for sure that ‘Nackt im Hemd’ by Jens Björneboe is banned in Germany, and we think in other countries, too.
      Siri is very excited now. She looks for a list of banned books and ways to get them.
      Kb had a friend who was an editor of a big publishing house which published, besides other topics, pornography. Pornography sells best when it is banned, like Björneboe’s book. And so she tried to get her books banned, but hardly ever succeeded.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  46. Great post. Is it possible to have a chaotic treasure trove? Did you know that if you more than 3 of anything, you have a collection. It’s true. So many collections aren’t even recognized. 😀 Once someone has three of something, you can give them more to add to their collection. The need to collect is also a genetic trait. You just can’t escape it. I have items with flamingoes, Japanese lusterware flower frogs, things with a Venice connection, vintage jewelry, nutcrackers, and rubber ducks. Eclectic to say the least.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Marie

      More than three of anything makes a collection. If we have four titles by an author in our library, we start looking for more.
      Collecting is a genetic trait; in some people, it’s more pronounced than in others.
      Your collections are unusual, we like that.

      Thanks for your interesting comment
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  47. I love the display of bones and seal pictures, so beautifully ordered to display. I lobe a bit of taxidermy and have a collection of feathers but haven never quite figured out how to display it all quite so beautifully. I have tried to live by the something in, something out rule but it doesn’t work for me. I think if you feel drawn to something, it finds a place with you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Helen
      We found out that for us, the something in, something out rule doesn’t work as well.
      It took us a long time to find the best display for the bones and fossils. In the end, we had to give them one of the biggest rooms in our house.
      Thank you.
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  48. Such insight into the minds of the Fab Four 😊! Dina’s collection is very interesting. I could see the enchantment with a bone collection, similar to my father, who was a collector of skills (animals). Along with Siri’s fossil collection, such things would have kept me spellbound growing up. Siri’s fossil collection would have the same effect. Klausbernd is one I am probably most envious of, nothing quite like an impressive library (again something to keep a mind spellbound). And then there is Selma, who shares my instictive curiosity of small stone – shapes, colors, or features that capture my eye always end up in my pockets 😂!

    This post is a beautifully crafted meditation on the collector’s spirit! I agree, collecting isn’t just about things, but about finding meaning, order, and wonder in what we gather. They become evolving reflections of your personalities, containing stories and a dash of playful chaos only the Fab Four could create – and Dina could photograph!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, dear Dalo.
      Yes, we are all four collectors. We collect with different motivations from just having to understand by organising, from having fun to having an understanding. Of course, we are proud of our collections. They are like a personality trait of ours.
      Thanks for your kind words.
      And have fun with your collections
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  50. Hello Klaus♥︎

    You’ve convinced me: collecting isn’t just a lifestyle; it’s a profound act of personal philosophy. Thank you for sharing the beautiful logic and delightful madness of your collections. May your house remain a fascinating library, and may Selma always find room for one more perfect round stone!
    – love Aparna

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Aparna

      Yes, collecting is a kind of lifestyle for us. It teaches us a certain discipline and understanding. We love the aesthetics of presenting our collection – or mostly only parts of it.

      Thank you very much for your kind comment and wishes
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

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