Stylist and author Sibella Court, pictured above outside her Sydney store The Society, Inc  is known for her collector's eye, and her love for workmanship and industry. Here she talks about her childhood collections and the one that got away, and shares images of her new range of hardware.

I collect: …so many things I wrote a book about it. The book is aptly called Bowerbird & covers at least 50 of the things I collect. Some favourites that come to mind are things that pierce & fasten, moustache-d men & old hardware. I am most definitely attracted to oddities & curiosities, hardware & haberdashery, left-overs , time past, & the forgotten arts



The collecting bug bit me when: I was definitely born with it - whether it is collecting or just being attracted to shiny pretty things, that aren't always particularly shiny



My first collection was: Well first memory is age 3 or 4 collecting tiny kelp shells that come up in big rifts- I would crawl on all fours up & down the white sands of Siletto Beach, pocketing them as I went. They are a tiny conical shell that come in shades of dusty pinks from the softest blush to a ruddy maroon in stripes , zigzags & solids! 



My current obsession is: Vessels. When I moved back to Australia, it was with a 40 foot container following, on the sea, full of a lifetime of beautiful props. I slowly sold off a huge portion of them through my shop & flea markets, & although I no longer have the prop styling hat on to justify the need for 50 different types of bowls, I cannot help but admire a mixed material vessel, a beautiful shape or even how one sits with another. I am coveting many a piece in the new shop on Queen Street, Sydney called Gingko Leaf & many a handmade piece from Cath Fogarty's gallery at Clovelly



The thing I most regret missing out on is: I buy most things I want. I have the most perfect job to be buying things all the time for my shop, commercial projects, samples for product design etc. However there was an interior of an entire French apartment , parquetry floors, paneling, windows etc. that was at my favourite Parisian fair, the Jamon & Brocante fair held once a year outside of Paris, that I had to pass up on.

 

My favourite find is: The interior of a nineteenth century French pharmacy, found in Egypt, bought in Australia & shipped to the States. It was 50 feet of beautiful cabinets each14 feet high.
because: It was majestic! And it spoke of so much history & travel

 Contact The Society Inc to find out more about Sibella's new products, or follow her on Instagram @sibellacourt for daily inspiration.