About OoU

Inspired by the idea of a voluntary simplicity in the way we can live, we aim to foster an appreciation of the value of the hand-made, an awareness of the proper utilisation of natural materials, and of the locale-specific resources and requirements that have led to each of our ‘vernacular objects’. We aspire to find an alternative to the prevailing throwaway culture, offering instead a more considered and harmonious approach to everyday living.

Objects of Use is a modern day hardware store, home to a unique selection of everyday household tools, conscientiously sourced from around the globe. Our collection brings together centuries of tradition, passed through the hands and minds of generations, whose processes and techniques have culminated in the production of beautiful tools made with practiced skill, using low impact methods and materials.

We cast our net wide, seeking out everyday archetypes in countries as far-flung as Japan, Korea, and Finland, as well as closer to home — some of our items are crafted within a few miles of our Oxford store. With a strong commitment to preserving the heritage of craft, we continually seek to support a resurgence of making through collaborations with independent designers and craftspeople, both established and emerging.

We believe in the simple things, in the increasing importance of considered consumption, and the life-enhancing qualities of these objects, whose unification of the best of tradition, design, and integrity provide an enduring legacy in the tools that enhance the fundamental routines of our daily lives.

Established in 2007 in Ironbridge, the seat of the Industrial Revolution, Objects of Use was born out of a quest for objects with integrity — and a desire to gather a selection of a certain kind of household tool — useful, beautiful, and often made in the same way for decades, or even centuries — objects that have evolved through many hands and proven themselves along the way.

After an inaugural few years based in the beautiful county of Shropshire, Objects of Use moved to central Oxford, where we have become an established part of the fabric of the city.

Still run by co-founder Hazel Rattigan, Objects of Use is on a continuous journey to seek out our tools from near and far, with the belief that we should value and support the skills and shared history of those who craft the objects that do so much to bring a simple authenticity to the work we do each day.