Is it the 'Old Curiosity' Shop, or the Old 'Curiosity Shop'? In other words, is it an old shop that sells curiosities, or a shop that sells old curiosities?

Datsmeharse

Choosing Sandal over Gourd was hard enough, but now this? I believe that most people would agree that it is the shop itself that is/was old. The London landmark "Old Curiosity Shop" has been around since the 16th Century, though not with that name, nor did it sell curiosities when it first opened, nor does it have anything to do with Dickens' novel, but still, it is old above all else. However, to even an infant this proves nothing, but I don't feel like erasing it so I'll press on. A "curio" in the modern defintion is not necessarily an antique, giving the 'old curiosity' shop faction (gourd-follwers all) some fuel for their weak arguments. Dickens in his book does refer to the shop as "one of those receptacles for old and curious things which seem to crouch in odd corners of this town..." which at first glance does seem to differentiate between what is old and what is curious. But does Dickens really mean that both old and curious items are on offer, or is 'old and curious' a necessary combination to all items? In the same passage he refers to the all the items inside as "musty treasures" and makes it clear that all the goods are as old as the shopkeeper, Nell's elderly grandfather. "Curiosity dealers" and "antique dealers" are synonymous to some, making something named an 'old curiosity' shop redundant, and thereby making old 'curiosity shop' the only plausible definition to those (intelligent, good-looking Sandal followers) who believe in the curiosity/antique marriage. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. Wait sorry: scratch that -- I got my references confused. Dickens at the very end of his story states that the "old house [shop] had long ago been pulled down" and so it is that passage, to we Sandal followers, which is the best evidence that Dickens himself considered the place an old "curiosity shop" http://www.gutenberg.org/files/700/700-h/700-h.htm He may as well have named it the "Ex Curiosity Shop" or the "Late Curiosity Shop" or the "Curiosity Shop that has Shuffled Off the Mortal Coil and Joined the Choir Invisible" but then he, like I, would've been seriously mixing his references, to equally bored readers. There's something else about a land war in Asia, but I'm obviously delirious now; I think I'll head to the newest version of the Old Curiosity Shop in London and pick up some holy sandals, they seem to have many for sale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6kySPKfiDU Oct 21 09, 11:00 PM

Baloo55th

Ye gods! Any more for any more? Oct 22 09, 10:49 AM