Man cave opens in DUMBO

By Damian Harris-Hernandez

Animal bones, magnifying glasses, and leather satchels: a new DUMBO shop stocks everything you would find in your grandpa’s den, if your grandpa hunted game and discovered evolution.

Creative design duo Becka Citron and John Marsala open their manly emporium of rustic one-of-a-kind oddities today. From wrought iron furniture to heavy oaken desks, Modern:Anthology calls the rugged urbanite to arms for an anti-Ikea uprising.

The store’s owners place emphasis on unique objects; each piece comes with a tag that tells its story, such as the “Welcome Buddy” flag that civilians waved to greet injured WWI vets returning home.

“I get emotionally attached to everything in here,” said Citron. “I’m sure there’s going to be some crying when we sell certain stuff.”

The store also carries new high-quality products such as leather bike saddles, high-end shaving kits, and bedding even the manliest man could unabashedly get between.

Citron and Marsala source their products locally, scouring estate sales and swap meets as well as working with other Brooklyn artisans and businesses, including Cobble Hill-based Workstead, neighborhood favorite Recycle-A-Bicycle, and Old+Dead, a taxidermy collector who sells mounted squirrels and skunks at Brooklyn Flea.

While the design team masterminded the DIY Network’s “Man Caves,” Citron insists that they are not just catering to one gender.

“Our goal is really to appeal to couples. We’re providing a counterbalance to lifestyle magazines like ‘Domino,’ ” said Citron, referring to the now defunct women’s lifestyle rag.

Hawking hefty 1920s aviator compasses and Indochina-era globes, Modern:Anthology is more Amelia Earhart than Martha Stewart.

Modern:Anthology [68 Jay St. between Front and Water streets in DUMBO, (718) 522-3020] opens today. For info, visit www.modernanthology.com.