topic Re: Collections in Home

Collections

151949 — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 05:22:20 GMT

Another thread about Longaberger baskets made me wonder about people's collections.Apparently collecting is no longer fashionable among the younger set. Do you have any collections? I have my grandmother's collection of Hummels , pre WW11, so I know they are valuable. She bought them when they were just a cute decor item that cost hardly anything.I also have my Mom's collection of Fenton art glass figures.I don't know if they have any value or not. Herenear our camp I purchased 2 plates with childrens figues on them by an artist named Zolan. I only paid $2 each for them but when I looked him up online I found they are worth around $50 to$100 apiece. That was a shock. I also have a collection of Lee Sands inlay necklaces.I do believe that one day they may be valuable - however I bought them because I love the artistry of them.

Re: Collections

country gal — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 07:44:01 GMT

Being in the antiques business 30+ years, it's hard NOT to collect something. So, here goes...blue & white stoneware pitchers, bowls, salt and butter crocks--Watt pottery (apple & rooster designs)--old baskets, kitchen wooden ware such as rolling pins, mashers, wood-handled choppers, dough bowls--grey graniteware (also, have some different colors of blue)coffeepots, lunch & milk pails, funnels, and other utensils. Also, stoneware such as Redwing and saltglaze stoneware with blue designs. Milk bottles with the name of our town on them. Whew, I think that's most of it. Not all is on display, thankfully, but stored in our basement. I pull out different things and pack away others as the mood strikes me. I love the beauty, simplicity, and functionality of these things AND their history..if only they could speak.

Re: Collections

mewsmomtoo — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 09:01:08 GMT

I only have one real collection and that is metal horses from the 40's and 50's, they are mostly copper colored. I no longer actively collect, but I enjoy what I have.

Re: Collections

GCR18 — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 15:00:34 GMT

I also have a collection of Hummels from my grandmother and mother. My grandmother was from Germany and brought them back when she visited. I collected depression glass, McCoy and pyrex for many years. I currently don't collect anything.

Re: Collections

Marienkaefer2 — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 16:47:34 GMT

Things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. You can look up values, but that doesn't mean anything unless people want them. My.mom had a huge collection of Hummels that were from.both of my grandmothers. We looked them all up by their markings on the bottom. Since none of us collect them, we brought them to a very well known auctioneer, who also takes online.bids from around the country and world. Let's just say that most didn't sell, and the ones that did brought in less than.half of what their value was supposed to be. The one thing we did make good money on was a coin collection. I don't collect things. Too much clutter and dusting. The things I do have around the house are just because I like them, not because I think they are valuable. Also, I don't like too many of one type of thing.

Re: Collections

Marsha2003 — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 18:27:27 GMT

I collect Royal Crown Derby paperweights that are in the shape of buildings. There aren't very many of them and I don't find them in the U.S. very often, so my whole collection fits into a small display piece in my home office where I can enjoy them every day.

Re: Collections

Kookielady — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 19:03:42 GMT

I collect all kinds of nutcrackers in my white curio in my downstairs family room. Spode dishes are on my walls in my diningroom and sitting room. Bunnies on my hutch in the diningroom with blue toile dishes. I also have a ceramic cat collection!

Re: Collections

Sooner — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 19:10:48 GMT

Cookbooks? Sterling flatware (you can find some of the most beautiful things in antique shops and sometimes at really good prices--I started this collection when I quit buying t-shirts on vacation! LOL!!), and maybe blue and white vases, ginger jars, fish post, etc. I have a lot of Longaberger baskets I need to get rid of but I never considered it a collection.

Re: Collections

RedHeadedWench — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 19:11:22 GMT

Lord, I have Hummels from my grandmother and mother, and I don't know what to do with them....and they are the older ones too. I have tried selling them, no one wants them, so they are wrapped carefully in a storage box.

I collect Bombay Company trinket boxes, I have a few, they are not worth much, but I like them. I have a few pieces of Belleek, but I don't consider myself a collector.

Radko ornaments and finials are my real collection. Almost time to whip them out too!

Re: Collections

Mary Bailey — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 19:40:56 GMT

I used to collect Zolan plates. I probably had upwards of 30. I had the a lot of these either full size or miniature, some I had both.

I only have one or two miniatures left, Brotherly Love and one with a little girl praying.

I don't remember what I did with them, probably Goodwill after a garage sale.

I also had a collection of over 100 angels that people had given to me over the years. I kept one small angel for each room, the rest went to Goodwill.

Re: Collections

MomCat — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:11:34 GMT

I'm in the antique business, and all I can say is, enjoy your collections. No one else wants them, and they aren't worth anything, but who cares as long as you like them. I've seen items sell for pennies compared to what they were worth several years back. We always talk about the ups and downs in the business, but I can't imagine these young people all of a sudden becoming interested again. Heck, I can't imagine ME becoming interested in collecting anything again. Clutter annoys me.

Re: Collections

issiestorm — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:25:58 GMT

I no longer actively collect anything because I've come to a point where I no longer want to acquire things. But I have collected Egyptian scarabs and Tinkerbell (Disney) figures. I still have them but no longer add to them. We had a bad earthquake here a few weeks ago and my furniture and everything else crashed all over the place, and I lost some things. I won't be replacing them, but I'll keep what I have. They may not be worth anything, but they are to me and that's all I care about. One person's clutter is another person's treasure.

Re: Collections

lovesrecess — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:40:29 GMT

I have never really collected anything but I do have valuable items I love ....on another thread someone posted a Kovel's link that lists 10 things that are now worthless after being highly-sought-after collectibles in the past...I do remember Hummels were on the list and are worth a lot only if they are over 12"" tall and made prior to 1949....I know the small ones can't be worth much now since I have seen several at the Goodwill store and they were still there a week later.

Re: Collections

curlywhitedog — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 20:41:34 GMT

I inherited my mom's Precious Moments collection. I'm not a fan of PM but she was and in her memory I keep them in my grandmother's secretary in my upstairs office.

My own collections included Boyd's Bears, both stuffed and resin, and LLadros, neither of which I collect any longer. I don't regret what I bought, those things made me happy at the time but I'm in a different place in my life now and they no longer provide that same joy.

My collection days are over and my "getting rid of days" are at my doorstep.

Maria

Re: Collections

NickNack — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 21:58:31 GMT

I have a small collection of white stoneware and paperweights. I'm trying to get rid of a lot of things now (not these two collections) and am selling stuff on Ebay.

Re: Collections

Mominohio — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:05:27 GMT

I think for many, the key to enjoying a collection can be a couple of different things.

First, they collect or were given what a relative collected, and it reminds them of that person, and times past.

Second, they collect something in small quantities, so it doesn't get overwhelming and end up being boxed up in the basement, or they collect things that they use on a daily basis (like dishware, or something similar) and it doesn't just take up space, but is useful.

I have a couple of things that I collected to a point, then stopped when I got what I thought was an attractive grouping or the line changed and I didn't like it anymore.

I collect Rowe salt glazed pottery, and it is on display as well as used. I have Longaberger baskets, again, tastefully displayed and used. I have some of the original Tom Clark gnomes, and they fill a shelving unit in my rec room. When the color schemes changed, I didn't like them and stopped. I collect Pyrex mixing bowls, changing out the colors for the season, and again, very used. I have a small collection of Baldwin brass candle sticks, and use them to set formal tables. I collect old things from my family, a handful of Christmas decor from the 1950's, a couple of Bibles that go back to the 1800"s and belonged to family, old furniture and some glass ware, anything that dates back generation in our family and belonged to loved ones, that I was fortunate enough to inherit and hold until the next generation will appreciate it. I also have a collection of quilts, some handmade by my grandmother, others not, and display them on a couple of quilt racks throughout the house.

Almost everything I have "collected" I have had for decades, still love it as much as I did when I started, still display and use it, and never let the collection get out of control so that when someone walks in the house, they just roll their eyes. Many of my "collections" you would never think of as such, because they are used and displayed throughout the house, and not just set all in lines in large cabinets like a store front or something. Most people who come to my house might not even notice that I have "collections", and that is to me, the sign of a "healthy collection" as opposed to something that borders on hoarding. To me, a collection is 3 or more of anything, so a collection doesn't have to be 20, or 50 or 100 or more of something. Some things I have a collection of, I have only 5 or 7 pieces.

Re: Collections

151949 — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:20:23 GMT

On 9/21/2014 RedHeadedWench said:
Lord, I have Hummels from my grandmother and mother, and I don't know what to do with them....and they are the older ones too. I have tried selling them, no one wants them, so they are wrapped carefully in a storage box.

I collect Bombay Company trinket boxes, I have a few, they are not worth much, but I like them. I have a few pieces of Belleek, but I don't consider myself a collector.

Radko ornaments and finials are my real collection. Almost time to whip them out too!

I understand the pre WW11 ones are still extremely valuable if they are in perfect condition. you should try to sell them if you don't care to display them.

Re: Collections

bettyboop33 — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:52:08 GMT

Anyone remember Byrde crystal from QVC? It was from Germany and I must have 40 pieces of it, packed away.

I checked ebay and most doesn't sell. None of my family want it so someday I guess it will be donated.

Re: Collections

morning glory — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:05:04 GMT

I collected the Fenton big alley cats and have four of them. Fenton went out of business but if I ever see another of the big alley cats I would buy it.

I collect First Editions of books and county histories and old atlases.

I collect Patriotic figures. Uncle Sam's are my favorite. They are not as easy to find as you would think.

I also collect calendars from the early 1900's. I also collect old postcards for holidays. I like paper things from over a hundred yrs. ago. The artwork is beautiful.

I love Smiley Face things. I love the bright yellow and the big smile. I have a few cups and other items of Smiley face on top of my bookcase lined up so I can see them every day. The things I buy are not worth a lot but they are things I love.

Re: Collections

Andrewsgrandma — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:09:22 GMT

I seem to collect pigs, lol. I have quite a few pigs, ceramic, resin, clay, etc. They are scattered in the yard and kitchen. I like pigs. I don't actively collect them, I acquire cute pig things when I see them. My latest addition was a cookie jar this summer that I got at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It holds dog treats. My dogs just love when the pig head is removed! My dad was a 'collector'. He thought a lot of things were collectable and would be worth money some day. He collected pewter civil war sculptures, coins and some kind of porcelain sculptures, LLadros. My mother collected her china pattern and lots of Waterford crystal. She now frets about who will want and love all of her crystal. Their best friends owned some bible book/gift stores in northern Calif. They, over the years bought hundreds of precious moments. They had an entire wall of a huge room devoted to those precious moments. Last I heard my mother said that they were reportedly not worth much at all. The widowed wife isn't sure now what she should do with the figurines. She is down sizing. I know my 2 adult daughters have zero interest in collectables or collecting anything. Maybe a generational thing?