Magical Objects

In 'The Great Gatsby', Fitzgerald describes the objects that Gatsby associates some meaning with as 'enchanted objects', such as the green light with which he associates Daisy and the hope of being reunited with her. Once Gatsby is with her, the green light no longer holds the same significance; ''it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.'' These are the kinds of objects that I decided to look for; those that held meaning, had stories and thus became 'enchanted' because of our emotional investment in them..

Upon interviewing my neighbour, I found just what I was looking for. He had kept a collection of family relics and heirlooms; war medals, brocohes, wedding certificates, birth certificates etc, all kept locked and safe in an old, leather box.

The old, worn out leather adds to its feel of antiquity,
 proof of it's rich and eventful history..

I really like the frayed jute string that
holds the key and connects it to the box.  

 Each individual object found in the box had it's own life, a sense of being present but carrying with them an ancient weight, belonging an altogether different time..

     

Steven Connor, in his book 'Parapharnalia', describes objects like those above as 'magical objects'. He says 'We can do whatever we like to things, but magical things are things that we allow and expect to do things back to us. Magical things surpass themselves, in allowing us to increment and surpass ourselves with them.' Such is the nature of the objects I am interested in and wish to explore. However, for my project, I want to find objects that are 'magical' and 'enchanted' for me; something personal and meaningful. And I need not look very far...