Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium

The storefront of Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium

The Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium is a store that sold antique and otherwise psychically interesting but legal items located in Bloomsbury, London. It was run and owned by the late Julius Winkman and his wife Adelaide Winkman, who also operated a criminal business specializing in the trade with illegal objects with psychic significance, like relics or sources, based out of the store.

## Official Stock

The exhibits of the Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium were dusty objects from various times. Almost all of them had some sort of historic significance, although actual psychic significance was unlikely.

### Objects of unknown psychic significance

* An equestrian statue in the Greek style, with one fore-hoof broken off
* A Roman vase
* A cabinet in red mahogany
* A Japanese ghost-mask, described as grinning from ear to ear
* An Appaloosa rocking horse, with dappled white flanks stained through time
* A tailor's dummy, head and shoulders covered in moth-eaten cloth, sitting on a wormy wooden pole
* An early metal twin-tub, a horse coiled on its top
* A Bakelite radio
* Three Victorian dolls with glassy, staring eyes
* An assortment of jewelery
* Two African bird sculptures, likely of flamingos
* An Oriental paper lantern

## Location and Layout

*The books and TV adaptation are divided on this topic. The following {{{part}}} will focus on the book version, citing the adaptation only where the book lacks information.*

### Outside

The Bloomsbury Antiques Emporium is located on Owl Place, a narrow side road between Coptic and Museum Streets in central London. It is a small lane with only two other establishments, a pizza place and a Chinese psychic healer, both a considerable distance away from the broad-fronted building with two bay windows that houses the Emporium. It's windows show an inside that is always dark, allowing a glimpse of various items. There are no obvious defences against ghosts located on the outside, even though the store operates after curfew.

### Inside

#### Shop floor

Visitors are greeted by a small bell, dangling from a spindle above the door. The room is dim, cool and dusty. It smells like herbal polish. The low room was described as a *"forest of stacked tables, display cabinets, chairs and random objects"*. It also featured a counter, behind which a door led to the private areas of the house. On the left side, coming from the door, a black cloth covered the entrance to the back room.

#### Hallway

A hallway connected the shop floor to the domestic apartments. It featured a faded Persian rug and sepia photos on the wall.

#### Back Room

The back room featured a bureau and a safe, both of which were trapped with electrical shocks.

## Criminal Business

Winkman's illegal business was known to be the best sale for relics in London. Highest offers, quickest sales and furthest reach were well known qualities of his operation, and allowed him to find many important relics, mostly acquired by relic-men. His clients came from all around the city, never asking questions. He organized secret auctions at various locations for them, where he would take bids on interesting items to be sold. To keep this business running, the pair was not afraid to kill, torture or use any other methods to ensure smooth operation.

### Known illegal items

* *"A cigarette case, platinum, early twenthieth century. Carried by Brigadier Horace Snell in his breast pockert the night he was shot dead by his rival in matters of the heart, Sergeant Bill Carruthers. Date: October 1913. Blood traces still present."* The item contained a strong echo, giving gunshot sounds and screams if touched. The item did not contain a visitor.
* A french estoc, a crusader blade, likely the source of a Spectre or Wraith, possibly one of the Saracens it slew.

#### Bone Glass

*Main article: Bone Glass*
The Bone Glass was a powerful relic made from seven human bones containing 7 spirits. It was said to show enlightenment to any onlooker, but killed the viewer or drove them mad. It was a gateway to the other side. It's incredible value was recognised by Winkman, though perhaps not fully, as it's true value could have been much more than his client's were able to pay.

## Investigations

### DEPRAC

The Department of Psychical Research and Control took a strong interest in the illegal part of the Bloomsbury Antiques emporium after the theft of the Bone Glass, an item acquired by the store. They sent out agencies to investigate, but did not investigate the shop by themselves.

### Lockwood & Co.

*The books and TV adaptation are divided on this topic. The following {{{part}}} will focus on the book version, citing the adaptation only where the book lacks information.*

Lockwood & Co. investigated the shop in relation to the Bickerstaff Case. They were tipped of by Flo Bones, a relic-girl, about the illegal auctions of Winkman and a likely connection between the thief, Jack Carver, and the store. They tried to investigate undercover, but were caught before they could make serious advancements.

### Fittes agency

The Fittes agency, more specifically the team of Quill Kipps, also investigated the shop. They came officially and just asked questions, not making any significant progress.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 *The Whispering Skull*, **III: The Missing Mirror**, Ch. 13
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Whispering Skull*, **III: The Missing Mirror**, Ch. 12
3. ↑ *Death Is Coming*, *"If Carver doesn't kill you, they will."*: 16:16
4. ↑ *The Whispering Skull*, **III: The Missing Mirror**, Ch. 12: *"Locky, you don't want to mess with Winkman[...] There's people tried to double-cross him - their remains have never been found"*
5. ↑ *The Whispering Skull*, **V: A Big Night Out**, Ch. 23: *"Gentleman's cigarette case, platinum, early twenthieth century. Carried by Brigadier Horace Snell in his breast pockert the night he was shot dead by his rival in matters of the heart, Sergeant Bill Carruthers. Date: October 1913. Blood traces still present."*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *The Whispering Skull*, **V: A Big Night Out**, Ch. 23