Automatic for the People

You don't have to be a domestic goddess to appreciate the Eclectic Electric Gallery.

But the quirky space with the fish on the roof definitely hearkens back to a time when the tools of her trade were as much art as useful objects.

Thomas Osdene and his son amassed a most astonishing collection of electric household items which, as I learned today, is the largest in the world.

Comprised of 9-10,000 pieces mainly from 1900-1930, it would be even larger if not for the fire during the construction of adjacent Ramz Hall back in 2004.

In fact, there's what looks like a piece of sculpture hanging on the wall but which is actually a section of melted display stands, wood  from Ramz Hall and toasters.

Sadly, many items were lost from the heat of the fire.

But what's left is magnificent. Scores of fans of every possible type began Osdene's collecting habit. There was even one with rubber blades for children's safety.

From fans he moved on to toasters and there are some beauts, including ceramic and hand-painted ones.

An advertisement for a toasters boasts, "Makes golden toast right at the table or bedside."

Bedside toast? What world was this I missed?

There was an impressive collection of Art Deco electric teapots by the German Bauhaus artist Peter Behrens, most of which would look right at home in the VMFA's collection.

The beauty of irons came as surprise to me since I hadn't known that they ever came in an array of colors to brighten a dull chore.

Near one was a bottle labeled "Distilled water for your Steam-Rite Automatic Iron," automatic being the key word.

Grilled sandwich makers were also made in beautiful colors and designs of porcelain. Heaters were made to look like sailboats and butterflies.

Some of the stoves and refrigerators were amazingly small, no doubt meant for flats rather than large houses.

Primitive looking washing machines required the lady of the house to turn them endlessly to agitate; still easier, I suppose, than washing by hand.

A long line of vacuum cleaners showed how little the basic form has changed in the past century.

As I walked through the light-filled  galleries repeatedly, I was struck by how compelling a look at cultural history these objects were.

Credit has to go to Mr. Osdene, who passed away in August, for spending years antiquing to amass such an amazing collection of everyday objects from a time most of us will never know.

I only wish it were open all the time because I'd recommend to every local and to every visitor for a way to spend a satisfying afternoon looking at a different kind of art history.

Martha Stewart would be pea-green with envy.