We spoke with furniture designer and book dealer Sean Brickhill to talk about collecting, curation, and why books remain an endless source of inspiration.
Hey Sean! First things first, please introduce yourself.
Hey! My name is Sean Brickhill. I’m a Melbourne based furniture designer and book dealer.
You've got two jobs most people would want one of. When someone asks what you do, which do you lead with—furniture or books?
I try to lead with furniture designer. It's the job I want to see myself doing long into the future. I do fear it’s become a bit blurry to people watching my journey as the book shop grows but furniture has been my main passion for the last 5 years and what I want to continue to do as my main focus. The books originally started as a way to fuel my own personal research towards my furniture practice. However that initial passion project has now turned into my second source of income.
Talk to us about First Edition. It started as a pop-up, right? What was the original plan—and what actually happened?
Yeah thats correct it was initially just intended to be a one-off event. A pop-up where I showcased the books from my personal collection alongside books from the collections of other artists and designers such as Beci Orpin and Tristian Cedia. It was at a time where I was really starting to get into collecting books for my collection. My searching for titles became deeper and deeper and along the way I started to discover books I'd seen selling on other websites for a lot of money for quite cheap. Now that I had an instagram page from the pop-up event I decided to buy a few of these books and have a crack at selling them through the page. As a few things sold I put the profit back into buying more books. Since that initial 10 or so books I bought I’ve had over 600 different books come in and out of my hands.
At what point did you realise this thing wasn't going anywhere?
The first edition kept going but the open library was put on pause. The idea was to continue doing these open library events, collaborating with other artists to share books from their collections. However events are tricky, there can be a lot of costs associated. Finding a space, furniture to display the books, marketing as well as, it can be time consuming. If I had the time and money wasn’t a problem, I would have continued doing the events. Starting a shop turned into the way I could continue to share lesser known print material in a way that I could at least break even.
You design furniture for a living. Does that change how you put a bookshop together—what's on the shelves, how the room feels?
I think it does for sure. When I moved into this space I had grand plans to build custom shelving and create a really beautiful space. As per usual I have big dreams and small funds. However I’ve tried to make the space as nice as I could with what I have. You’ll find pieces of my furniture scattered around the store: a couple of chairs, a small lamp and a stool. The idea for this was to have the space be a bit of a showroom as well. Somewhere I can bring clients and have meetings, as well as use it as a bit of a design studio on the days that the store isn't open. Throughout the space you’ll also notice little knick knacks and objects—things I’ve collected from my travels. Things that inspire my furniture practice and some things that also relate back to the books like ephemera and posters.
Not every book makes the cut. What gets a book onto these shelves?
Yes, I try to keep a thoughtful curation. On a broad level it is anything that falls into a creative field with the main focus of it being rare or lesser known—things that are hard to find in other bookshops. Usually the first test for a book to make it onto the shelf is do I like it and does it inspire or intrigue me? At the end of the day if it doesn't sell, would I be happy to keep this book in my collection? Then, can I make a profit on this book whilst still being able to sell it at a price that is the same or better, than other similar bookstores. Second hand is difficult. Finding great rare books is relatively easy but finding those titles at a price I can fairly mark up is the real challenge. There are a lot of really great books out there but if 10 other stores have it at a price I can't beat then I won't buy it. The main aim is to bring in books that are either really desirable or different to your standard 'coffee table book'. I’d much rather look at a niche catalogue from a Japanese art gallery on an artist of which only 300 were made, than the big Thames and Hudson book that 50,000 other people around the world also own.
Alright, the important stuff. It's a grey Melbourne winter, we've got nowhere to be. What are we reading?
Reading is an interesting one. It's terrible that I own a bookshop but am barely a reader. As such a visual person I've naturally gravitated towards photography and artbooks.
So here are a few books I'd suggest to treat your visual brain, some of which are my favourites from in store and my collection.
Firstly, Television by Mochizuki Masao.
This book is the work of a Japanese photographer who repetitively photographed his television screen between 1975-76. The book itself is only 80 pages but includes 35,000 individual images. A book you could spend hours going through picking up on a new detail every time. It’s a large book that you’ll definitely need to set down on a flat surface to properly browse.
His House by Luis Barragan
If I had to buy just one of the many books of the great Mexican architect Luis Barragan this would be it. Published by the Latin American publisher Editorial RM, this now very rare book takes us on a complete visual tour of the Barragan house and studio as well as the garden that surrounds it. I’ve seen many photos of the Barragan house. I think even the bad photos of the space are beautiful, but this book is full of exceptional photographs.
This book takes you into all the well known moments from the house as well and locations from the house that aren't commonly seen—captured superbly by the photographer. The bright colours of his home are sure to cheer you up in winter.
Japan Interior Design magazines
These are something I try to have at least one or two of in store at all times. Japan Interior Design was a magazine published from 1960 until the mid-1980s. The earlier issues focus primarily on Japanese interior design and architecture, while editions from the late 1960s onwards broaden their scope to include Italian, Scandinavian and American design, as well as issues dedicated to subjects such as playground design and store interiors. The photography is exceptional and is complemented by outstanding graphic design.
Japan Interior Design Iss. 155 is a great issue of Japan's leading magazine on interior design and furniture. They're an excellent capsule of design from the late '60s to early '80s, and this issue focuses on one of my favourite design groups, Superstudio.
Jamie Hawkesworth, Preston Bus Station
Jamie Hawkesworth's Preston Bus Station is up there in my top 10 books in my personal collection. Hawkesworth is a British photographer who wonderfully captures the people passing through Preston Bus Station in the UK. His compositions are great, and his use of colour is always on point, making the UK winter still look beautiful.
Martine Bedin, WERK No.21
Werk Issue 21 was one of those rare finds that may not come up again. This issue focuses on the talented Italian furniture designer Martine Bedin. Bedin was part of the Memphis Group and is best known for her 'Super Lamp'. Werk was known for its creative book designs for each issue, and this one is no exception. The die-cut pages are something special.
Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Someday Somewhere
Lastly is one of my favourite recent finds, Someday, Somewhere by Yasuhiro Ishimoto. Shot in the '50s by the Japanese photographer, the book is filled with exceptionally rich black-and-white photographs. Split into a few different subjects, there's a great winter section of cars covered in snow, while the beach section always has me looking forward to summer.
Is there a book in here you'd be quietly gutted to sell?
There’s lots of them! As I was saying, most of the books in the store I'd love to own but doing this has made me learn how to detach. With the amount of searching I do I’ve come to see that if you keep your eye out you’ll likely be able to find another copy. Here and there, there is the odd book that I come across that is incredibly hard to find. In those cases I might keep it.
Now—the scanning thing. Most shops would frown at people photographing the stock instead of buying it. You're encouraging it. Explain yourself!
Well, in a way it's a deterrent to people taking photos of the books by giving them the opportunity to obtain a high-resolution file of the image they want. The scanning and library service is a bit of a tie-back to the initial open library concept that started everything. It's a way to give access to those who can't afford the book or only need a snippet of it.
The service is mainly aimed at two target audiences: creatives researching for a specific project—people such as architects, art directors, photographers and filmmakers who need reference material to communicate an idea—and students or people with smaller budgets who can't afford the price of owning the whole book.
The service will mostly consist of the client paying for a period of time to go through the books in store and from my personal collection, where I'll be there to point them in the right direction depending on the brief. The time slot will come with a number of free scans, with any additional scans charged at a cost per scan. Alternatively, during opening hours customers will be able to request scans of pages from the books on the store shelves, also at a cost per scan.
Yes, this may deter customers from wanting to buy the whole book, but I think if they really want the book, they'll buy it regardless.
What do people actually scan? Anything surprised you?
As it’s still not quite up and running I'm yet to see, however I'm sure things catch me by surprise. But I love that, we all have different eyes and ways of thinking and I love to see what others gravitate towards.
Last one. Someone's standing out front deciding whether a rare bookstore is "for them." What do you tell them?
What are you waiting for! Open the door! Just like any other store you don’t have to buy anything but I guarantee you there’ll be something that at least surprises you or inspires you. Yes rare books can bring high prices but there's plenty of books in store for all interests and budgets.
