FASHION

A treasure
trove in
Baie Lazare
In the heart of Baie Lazare, Lynette Botha
discovers an unsuspecting place that houses
a lot of history and a lot of heart
Joseph Larue is an anomaly. He doesn’t have an email address, he’s
not really interested in TV and he thinks social media is ruining
relationships. He longs for the old days, when life was simpler. He
recalls days gone by, when he was a young boy and his family would
take turns to tell stories in the evening because they had no television –
his grandfather, his mother and his father, all taking turns to share a tale
– and before he knew it, it was bedtime. He misses those days, when life
moved at a slower pace and people weren’t consumed by technology
and entertainment.
It’s no surprise then to learn about his great and deep-seated love for
history. Joseph owns Lazare Souvenir, Museum and Gallery in Baie
Lazare – a treasure trove of trinkets from the past. And while it’s only
been open for around six months, the store was previously located in
Victoria, called Yves Souvenir Cachée, where it had been for 15 years.
There are fascinating things he has collected over the years – from old
spectacles, gramophones and typewriters to records, coins and even an
old electricity receipt dating decades back with a monthly total so little,
you’d choke comparing it to the bills of today.
When I ask him where the majority of his things come from, he says
“You won’t believe it, but most of these things I have picked up in
the junk yard; people just throw this stuff out. There is not much of a
culture of history and remembrance in Seychelles – people don’t seem
to treasure family heirlooms. If older members of their family pass on,
they tend to just throw their stuff out; they don’t hold on to it or restore
it.” But he’s not complaining – he’s picked up many amazing pieces from
the junkyard, including the prized bicycle with the “open” sign affixed
to it that stands proudly outside the store’s front door. “It’s like the old
adage goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” he says. Apart
from housing historical items of Seychelles’ past, the walls are adorned
with art for sale from local artists, many of whom Joseph is friends with.
Most of the work showcased is done by artists from the Baie Lazare area
and gets them a lot of exposure. “Yeh, the art sells well here – and as
soon as something is sold, I call them up and say ‘there’s a gap on the
wall, I need a replacement’.” He smiles as he tells me this. Joseph has an
extremely calm and warm nature, and shares his knowledge and stories
openly. Which is why I’m not surprised when he tells me that he often
has groups from schools who come by to visit, and he gives them a
guided tour of the place and answers their questions.
“IT’S LIKE THE OLD ADAGE
GOES, ONE MAN’S JUNK IS
ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE,”
HE SAYS.
Every year since 2003, Joseph has visited the UK at least once; unlike
many locals who mainly travel abroad to shop and enjoy the finer
things in life, he loves to visit other places and experience their culture
and history. Of all the places he’s travelled to he says that the museums
and antique stores that he visited in the UK and South Africa have
had the biggest influence on how he curates things and have further
inspired him to keep hunting for souvenirs and artifacts to display.
There is no cover fee to visit the museum, and when I ask him if he’ll
ever charge one in the future, he responds, “never; I will never have a
fee to come in. I am grateful for any donations, of course, so that I can
carry on collecting and preserving history, but I will never charge for
viewing.” Do people often leave donations I ask? “Not all the time, but I
get a few, normally SR25 or SR50; the most I have received was SR100
from a local lady who was so impressed by the place.” Joseph has many
foreigners visit and says they are always impressed with what he has
done with the place and they ask a lot of questions; “they really love it;
you just need to read my guest book to see for yourself”.
THE UK AND SOUTH AFRICA
HAVE HAD THE BIGGEST
INFLUENCE ON HOW HE
CURATES THINGS AND HAVE
FURTHER INSPIRED HIM TO KEEP
HUNTING FOR SOUVENIRS AND
ARTIFACTS TO DISPLAY.
Exclusive Distributor:
Mamma Mia (Pty) Ltd
t: 4 374 545 | e: mammamia@seychelles.net
When choosing the colourful outside of Joseph’s museum as the
backdrop for our cover shoot this month, we had no idea of the
amazing history that lay beneath nor the friendly, genuine man
responsible for it. As they say, everything happens for a reason. Do
yourself a favour and pay the place a visit – you won’t be sorry.
15 MARCH 2015 | POTPOURRI