A Conversation with NYIABF Ambassador Camille Okhio

Camille Okhio is a New York-based writer, curator, and historian. Her work has appeared in W Magazine, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Wallpaper*, Elle Décor, Vogue and more. She is recognized for her ability to contextualize design within broader discussions around history and culture, and has held speaking engagements and participated in critiques at Aspen Art Museum, Noguchi Museum, the New York Studio School, Cornell University, Columbia University, Bard Graduate Center and more.

Camille is serving as an Ambassador for the 66th Annual ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, joining a dynamic group of passionate collectors, influencers, and industry leaders who are shaping the conversation around collecting, preservation, and the cultural importance of historical materials. Ahead of the fair, we had the opportunity to ask her a few questions.

Collection & Inspiration

What do you collect? What is the most remarkable or unusual item in your collection, and how did it come into your hands?

I collect anything that moves me. 18th-century candlesticks, Ancient Roman glass and coins from the 2nd century, 19th-century American tables and cabinets, glass by Valentina Cameranesi, jewelry by Joy Bonfield Colombara and Joanne Burke, 14th- and 18th-century ceramics and textile fragments from the same century...it is all remarkable to me.

One of my most unusual objects is a late 17th-/early 18th-century wool crewel work panel depicting six trees bearing different fruit with stag weaving in and out of the foliage. Another is a life-size glass ant made by a master in Venice.

If you could own any antiquarian book, manuscript or artifact in the world, what would it be, and why?

Isabella d'Este's Book of Hours. I admire d'Este's taste, her patronage of the arts, and her intellectual acuity. Many of the most remarkable minds have a spiritual praxis as well, so I would be curious to see how d'Este's love of life, beauty, and God mingled in this text. Dr. Jorn Gunther Rare Books is offering her Book of Hours by Florentine brother-artists Gherardo and Monte di Giovanni del Fora—the illustrations are insanely rich.

Which past or present figure in the literary world do you most admire?

James Baldwin, easily. But also Shakespeare for his honesty and Jane Austen for her hope.

Is there a historic library, archive or reading room anywhere in the world that has left a lasting impression on you?

The Abbey Library of Saint Gall in St. Gallen Switzerland. It is the most exquisite Baroque jewel, with an intense stillness derived from the 13 centuries of thought and research undertaken in its location. The site was christened in the 7th century by the missionary Saint Gall and the original medieval library replaced by one built in 1767.

Underneath it are over 100,000 early printed manuscripts and 400 codices published before the year 1000. You can feel their power radiating through the floors. One library I have only ever visited in my dreams is the Ancient Library of Alexandria. I would give anything to see it.

Has a piece outside your primary collecting focus ever inspired you in surprising ways?

A 19th-century scrimshaw walking stick given to me by a beloved friend is the subject of many reveries. The friend who gave it to me is white and of an older generation. The head of the walking stick is carved into a closed fist, like a Black Power fist. When he gave it to me, this friend spoke to the walking stick being part of him and part of me. It now hangs in my bedroom and has spurred a great deal of thought around the power of symbolism and the power of unfettered Black minds.

Lifestyle

What first sparked your love for rare books and literary history?

My maternal grandmother. She trained as a teacher in Wales and oversaw the extremely rigorous education of my mother and her four younger brothers in Nigeria. She also taught me how to read and fostered a love of narrative and imaginary worlds that was maintained by my mother and father. My parents would take me to Borders for hours as a child and I could buy whichever books I wanted.

Which books or manuscripts are you currently researching or working with?

I am currently reading The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life by Clare Carlisle and a collection of John Donne's poems. Both were deeply passionate people, alive to the value of grief as well as bliss. And I am still thinking about my brilliant friend Sasha Bonét's debut book The Waterbearers, which I read last year. It offers a soft and searing look at American history and culture through the lens of Black womanhood. Unbelievable book!

What non-book object, artwork, or place currently fuels your curiosity?

The medieval Stirling Castle in Scotland. I recently visited it for the first time with a friend and felt completely swept away staring down from the ramparts. It is home to the largest Medieval banqueting hall in Scotland, which is also where Mary, Queen of Scots celebrated the baptism of her son James, who would later become King of England and Scotland. It was an extremely charged site and I am curious what else happened there to give it such a strong energy.

What’s a recent discovery, be it a book, essay, podcast or exhibition, that’s reshaped your perspective on collecting?

The Clouet Cabinet at Chantilly. It is a room dedicated almost exclusively to royal portraits by Jean and Francois Clouet. How splendid to have such an intense appreciation for a single artist (or father and son duo in this case) that you would dedicate an entire room to contemplating their hand!

The De Menils method of collecting with their hearts and souls, while also using their collection as a catalyst for journeys of the mind, greatly resonates with me. Roger Caillois, who I recently learned of through friends in Paris, also collected with passion, connecting the natural world to poetry and mysticism.

Advice

What’s the first step you’d recommend to someone starting an antiquarian collection?

Buy a book whose author or story has an unshakeable place in your heart.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned about collecting?

You can never go wrong when you follow your gut.

What’s your best tip for spotting something truly special among the ordinary?

You only know what is unique when your knowledge is deep and wide ranging. You cannot expect to develop a singular sense of taste without rigorous and continual education.

Plugs

What recent acquisition, exhibition or research project makes you most proud?

All of my work gives me a sense of pride. An essay I wrote a few years ago for Cultured on the queer Roman emperor Elagabalus and an essay I wrote for Les Enluminures, linking Medieval metallurgy to the work of my great friend and artist Joy Bonfield Colombara.

Do you have any projects coming down the pipeline that you can share with? We'd love to share what you're working on with our followers!

I am working on a book that tracks the present and past work of French heritage brand Rinck. They have designed homes, yachts, furniture, and objects for much of the world's most discerning collectors and institutions. It is the first book of the 185-year-old brand and will be published by Flammarion.

What’s one of the most challenging finds you’ve successfully tracked down?

An 18th-century religious textile fragment depicting the Holy Spirit in threads of gold and silver.

What are you most looking forward to exploring or sharing at the next New York Antiquarian Book Fair?

Knowledge, of course!