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A Museum Devoted to Everyday Items
Mexico City is home to an institution that’s right the Inconspicuous Consumption wheelhouse.
Feb 18
•
Paul Lukas
and
Scott Teplin
46
17
5
What the Hell Is an Addressograph?
How a small vintage item led me down a very deep, very enjoyable rabbit hole.
Feb 3
•
Paul Lukas
36
26
2
Collection Agency: From Glassware to Hardware
Elizabeth Fox has a knack for niche-specific collecting categories across many types of objects. Plus a new Inconspicuous News Roundup!
Jan 20
•
Paul Lukas
46
21
1
Collection Agency: Crunching the Numbers with a Calculator Collector
Rahul Saggar, a self-described “calcuphile,” is obsessed with old-school computational devices.
Dec 29, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
93
45
6
When Is a Catalog More Than a Catalog?
A close look at functional objects that also serve as catalogs. Plus a new Inconspicuous News Roundup!
Nov 7, 2025
28
10
1
The Pleasures of Decorator Colors
How a recent purchase led to a deep dive on a colorful marketing term.
Nov 4, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
37
19
2
I Thought I Knew About the Poll Tax, but I Was Wrong
How a bunch of vintage documents gave me a fascinating history lesson.
Oct 2, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
37
9
In Which I Finally Land My White Whale ... Sort Of
I finally found a long-sought item — or at least a representation of it. Plus still more stick figures, right-handed toilets, and more!
Sep 3, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
25
12
1
A Shirt with a Very Unusual Backstory
A gift I gave to a now-deceased friend 30 years ago is up for purchase in a digital estate sale, which raises some interesting questions. Plus a new…
Aug 25, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
31
7
1
Little Stories: The Special Fork
How I sent coded messages while setting the table for dinner.
Jul 24, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
34
13
1
A Very Satisfying Piece of Hardware Design
One of my favorite possessions spends most of its time buried in my toolbox. Plus a new Inconspicuous News Roundup!
Jun 9, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
24
8
My Favorite Industrial-Trespassing Artifact
Transforming a story of death into a flicker of life.
May 23, 2025
•
Paul Lukas
27
8
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