The Inchcape Collective Story
The Inspiration - Inchcape Cottage
The Inchcape Collective was born from a personal story — a way to preserve the spirit of a place that meant everything to my family.
For generations, our summer cottage, Inchcape, in Northeast Harbor, Maine, was a sanctuary. Built in 1897 by Fred Savage, a renowned architect behind many of Mount Desert Island’s iconic cottages, for Miss Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, an American philanthropist and art collector, as an anonymous gift to Dr. William Reed Huntington, rector of Grace Church in New York.
Ichcape Cottage - Circa 1920
Inchcape Cottage as viewed from the water of Northeast Harbor.
Inchcape's iconic "Piazza" wrap around porch overlooking Northeast Harbor and Bear Island.
Inchcape's living room, which remained largely unchanged from what you see here in the 1920's until it was sold by my family in 2023.
The view from Inchape's porch out to the mouth of Northeast Harbor and Bear Island in the distance.
The name Inhcape comes from the poem "The Inchcape Rock," a tale of a pirate who, in an act of spite, cuts a warning bell from a treacherous rock — only to meet his own doom when his ship strikes that very rock. It’s a story of irony, legacy, and the unseen consequences of our actions.
In a twist of fate, our family home was sold Inchcape in 2023 after the passing of my grandfather and his brother. Losing Inchcape was a profound personal loss, but it also sparked the idea to create something that could carry forward its memory — not just as a place, but the spirit Inchcape embodied
The Inchcape Collective is my way of honoring the timeless beauty of Mount Desert Island and the culture of the Upper Northeast. It’s a tribute to craftsmanship, character, and the stories objects can hold — whether it’s a vintage watch, a well-loved pocket knife, or a forgotten piece of art waiting to be rediscovered.
This is more than a brand. It’s a way to keep a legacy alive, to share the things that inspire me, and to build a community that appreciates the value of things made to last.
Carrying the Legacy Forward — The Inchcape Collective
The Inchcape Collective is a tribute to heritage, craftsmanship, and the enduring beauty and design of well-made things. Inspired by my family cottage in Northeast Harbor, Maine — Inchcape — the brand carries forward the spirit of Mount Desert Island and the culture of the Upper Northeast.
What began as a personal collection of watches, pocket knives, vintage ad prints, and other vintage finds has grown into a curated shop for timeless objects that enrich everyday life. At its heart, The Inchcape Collective is more than a store — it’s a gathering of kindred spirits who appreciate design, history, and the stories behind the things we choose to carry, keep, and make part of our story. Whether you're here to find a timepiece, a unique piece of home decor, or simply share in the appreciation of enduring craftsmanship, we hope you'll feel part of a larger collective — one that values craftsmanship, timeless design, and community.
This is our humble beginning. But with time, we envision The Inchcape Collective evolving into a physical space where people can shop, share stories, geek out on watches, or enjoy a great espresso — a modern-day general store for the curious mind and adventurous spirit.
Welcome to The Inchcape Collective — curated goods for the discerning collector.
Our Founder —Taylor Matysik
For as long as I can remember, I've been a collector of things. It began when I was young with baseball cards, LEGOs, Pokémon cards, and Magic: The Gathering cards, and has now evolved into many of the things you will find on The Inchcape Collective — watches, pocket knives, vintage ad prints, and a variety of other objects crafted with care and purpose. While collecting is something that is inherently enjoyable to those of us with the "collecting gene," what makes collecting really special is being able to share your collection with a like-minded community and the relationships that can come from that comradery around these shared objects we love and collect.
Today, the forefront of my collecting and passion is watches, which is why they are the most prominent focus of The Inchcape Collective. I’ve always been drawn to objects that blend utility, design, and craftsmanship, and watches embody that intersection perfectly. The pursuit of finding unique, high-quality pieces and bringing them to other collectors is what inspired me to create The Inchcape Collective — a place where these objects can find new life, new homes, and spark new connections.
Prior to starting The Inchcape Collective, I studied business and entrepreneurship at The University of St. Thomas and my career has been spent in corporate sales and marketing across industries including finance, technology, automotive, and multi-family real estate. When I'm not working or nerding out over cool watch finds, I spend my free time traveling, scuba diving, playing tennis, swimming, writing, and reading. For those curious to learn more about my perspective on watches, collecting, and my other curiosities I share ongoing thoughts and stories in my Substack blog — A Wristed Development.
Beyond being a marketplace where you can discover a treasure or two to make your own, The Inchcape Collective is a community, a gathering place for discerning collectors who share a deep appreciation for objects of utility, timeless design, and supreme craftsmanship. Your tribe is here — welcome in.
