Dolls-and-Bears -> Bears -> Boyds

Boyds Bears are the creation of Gary Lowenthal and his wife, Justina Unger. Before they were married, they owned an antique shop together in 1979, and found that they couldn’t afford the types of antiques they wanted to carry. So in 1982 they started making and selling antique reproductions, beginning with their line of duck decoys. They began making miniature reproduction houses out of resin which they called Gnomes Homes. Business was good—they even sold wholesale to other retailers.

Then in 1984, they designed a 12” jointed bear, inspired by a line of Merino wool bears from China, and named it Matthew after their infant son. Boyds Bears were born. In 1993, they began making resign bear statues, as well as other items. Their catalogue of products is large with a variety of different things to choose from. But the soft bears are still one of their most popular items, with collectors clamoring to get them all.

Many of their products, including Boyds Bears, have won doll and toy industry awards, and their line is highly popular with teddy bear collectors. The bears can be found in chain and independent stores like Hallmark and other shops, and through many online stores, as well as eBay. They have a party plan that allows a party hostess to earn free merchandise by hosting a bear party to sell the plush bears, as well as a collector and fan club called the Loyal Order of Friends of Boyds, whose fee entitles you to special members-only versions of some items, as well as other perks.

As with most collector lines like Boyds Bears, the older and retired bears are more valuable and more difficult to find. When a bear is retired that means it’s no longer being manufactured, so the number is limited to how many have already been produced. These are hot items for collectors, so if you’re looking for a retired bear, you might have a lot of searching to do before you’re lucky enough to find it at a price you find acceptable.

Unless you just want every one of the Boyds Bears you can possibly find (and some people do!) then it’s best if you narrow down your idea of what your collection should be about. You can choose between plush bears and resin, or you can have a mixture. Even if you choose one or the other, you’ll want to further plan your collection, because there are so many, with new ones being produced all the time.

You can narrow your collection theme by holiday—there are several both plush and resin designs for every holiday you can think of. Just Christmas bears alone in both plush and resin could have you happily searching for new items for quite some time, but the other holidays are well-represented, too. You can choose ornaments, bears wearing different hats, bears made to represent the seasons, Boyds Bears themed Victorian or country, or almost any other kind of classification you can think of.

Originally posted 2008-12-29 14:00:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Paper

Collecting ticket stubs is a fun hobby that can be equally exciting and frustrating because tickets are one of the more rare items you can collect, whether they’re from sporting events, concerts, museum visits, political rallies and events, movies or other events that require tickets for admission.

While it might not seem that ticket stubs are rare, consider how many people can attend one event—a very limited number will have that specific ticket. Then think about how many of those might actually save the ticket, and how many of those will sell, trade or give away the ticket where a collector might be able to acquire it, and you can quickly see where it can be a frustrating hobby, depending on your favorite area.

But it can be an incredibly fun way to indulge yourself in your hobby surrounding a particular type of music, an individual singer or band, for instance, if you collect ticket stubs from specific concerts and appearances. You can collect sporting event ticket stubs from a particular team, a particular sport or even a specific stadium on certain dates, or any date.

Movie ticket stubs can be wonderful for movie buffs who want to collect tickets from movies featuring favorite actors or actresses, a certain genre of movies, or movies shown in a certain area. Some small theaters just have generic tickets like the type you might find at a carnival, or in the stationery part of your local store. But other theaters print full-color tickets featuring the name of the movie, the date, and even an image from the film, making them highly collectible.

People who collect ticket stubs have some of the most specialized collections in the world. Some seek out specific tickets like those to Elvis or Beatles concerts. Some people like stubs from bands that represent a certain era of music, like Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane tickets. Some people try to get ticket stubs from concerts of their favorite performers during a specific tour. They might try to collect a stub from each venue on Michael Jackson’s Thriller tour, for instance. Opera tickets, musicals, theater performance—these are all huge items for ticket stub collectors.

Sporting event ticket stubs are some of the most popular, thanks to the variety of shapes and colors, and levels of artistic detail found on some of the tickets. Some bear images of athletes, stadiums or logos, though plain tickets do still exist. Some stadiums even scan tickets and then return them intact.

These collectible ticket stubs will likely only rise in value now that most venues, sporting events as well as theaters and movie houses alike, allow customers to purchase tickets online and print them at home to be scanned at the event. The first step in collecting ticket stubs is naturally to decide what kind you want to collect. Online auctions like eBay are awesome places to find everything from ticket stubs from Babe Ruth games to that Grateful Dead concert you wanted to attend, but couldn’t.

Originally posted 2008-12-15 05:00:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectables -> Collectibles -> Beads

Venetian beads are a special kind of bead imported from areas of Venice and Murano. These beads are often called Murano glass beads. The special glass used to make these beads is manufactured on the island of Murano, and the beads themselves are handmade. This gives them a charm and craftsmanship unmatched by an type of mass-produced beads or glasswork.

The chief danger in purchasing Venetian beads is that the seller is misrepresenting the beads. Some people have fallen into the trap of calling any kind of glass beads Venetian or Murano, which is shame because these beads have qualities that set them apart. The methods of producing the beads is so vastly different, in part because each on is handcrafted, that there’s simply no comparison between regular glass beads and Venetian ones.

There are different types of beads that fall under the umbrella of Venetian beads and can help you distinguish them from plain glass. Sommerso beads have a variety of colors suspended within them in tiny flecks. Millefiori beads are also called lace or mosaic beads, and are one of the most popular types of beads, that feature a design within the bead. Often the designs are very intricate, but even plain designs are beautiful. The solid color glass is essentially wrapped around a Millefiori cane which bears the design. These beads are kaleidoscopic and are sometimes also known as thousand flowers.

Fiorato or fiore beads. These beads feature flower designs on the outside of the bead, rather than designs with the beads themselves, like the Millefiori beads. These Venetian beads require a great deal of artistry and skill because the flowers are essentially drawn on with lines of molten glass.

Foil beads are Murano glass beads that are rolled onto sheets of gold or silver foil which is then melted into the bead. Blown Beads are Venetian beads that are made in a Murano glass furnace and created with a glassblowing pipe. These beads come in a variety of shapes and designs. Dichroic beads look different from every angle and in every night because of the coating used on the bead.

Lampwork beads might sound like a type of bead you’ll find on a lamp, but it’s merely a term that means the beads were worked while over a flame. This is the most ancient way of making Venetian beads, done as it had been since the beginning. Furnace glass beads are made by glass blowing but with a more modern type of glass than other types of beads.

Venetian beads are popular in jewelry making and crafts, and much of the appeal of these beads is that no two will ever be alike simply because they are handcrafted. Even Millefiori beads, which are created by shaping glass around a cane that features a solid design, will have differences. While the design cane is uniform all the way through, the handcrafting of the glass and shaping of it will have variations, even if the artisan attempts to make them all exactly alike.

Originally posted 2008-11-18 05:00:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

There are a number of famous collectible teddy bears that you can buy or sell and build a collection out of. Here are some of the collectible teddy bears that you may want to consider looking for and perhaps adding to your collection of unique bears from all eras.

- * Merrythought Collectible Teddy Bears - These teddy bears date as far back as the 1930s, and they are known for featuring unique, large round ears as well as claws that are joined.

- * Chad Valley Collectible Teddy Bears - These teddy bears were originally produced during the 1920s, and the earliest examples of these teddy bears were made out of lush, soft gold mohair and they had cuddly arms and legs that were stuffed full of silky fibers.

- * JK Farness & Co Collectible Teddy Bears - This company is rumored to be responsible for the original Winnie the Pooh stuffed bear. This company is also well known for supplying teddy bears to the Harrods department store, a famous store during the 1920s. The bears from this company featured eyes made from amber glass and the ears of the bears were set at an angle.

- * Schuco Collectible Teddy Bears - These are novelty teddy bears that were capable of playing music and doing tricks, as these were all the rage during the 1920s and the 1930s. Schuco was a German manufacturing company that created teddy bears capable of dancing, walking, doing summersaults and playing with a toy ball.

- * Boyds Bears Collectible Teddy Bears - This popular brand of teddy bears originally got its start in the 1980s, which is when the founder of the company, G.M. Lowenthan quit his department store job and started working in the antiques business.

- * Care Bears Collectible Teddy Bears – These bears originated as popular greeting card illustrations and then eventually came to life as real teddy bears during the 1980s.

- * Cherished Teddy Collectible Teddy Bears – These cherished teddy bears are collectible figurines that were designed by a woman named Priscilla Hillman.

There is no limit to the type of collectible teddy bears that you can buy and add to your connection. You may consider choosing a specific type of teddy bear, or a specific year of origin, or you may consider collecting teddy bears of a particular style or color, size or material. The sky is the limit when it comes to choosing collectible teddy bears for your stuffed animal collection. Identifying teddy bears for their origin and valuing them based on their quality are important steps in ensuring that you purchase collectible teddy bears that are worthwhile.

Photo Credits: johntrainor

Originally posted 2009-09-17 03:47:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Lladro-> Figurines

When you look at the beauty and grace that is customary with Lladro collectibles, it’s hard to believe that the company originally specialized in jugs and basic kitchenware. It wasn’t until the mid 1950’s that the three original founders of the company, who happened to be brothers, came up with the first designs that would forever change the face of their company.

Lladro collectibles are still made today in Valencia, Spain and they have developed a world wide audience of faithful followers. The delicate figurines are truly remarkable in appearance and many of them are actually quite valuable. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine whether you’ve found a great Lladro collectible, or if you may be dealing with a knock-off.

Prior to 1970, the figurines made by the company are generally a bit paler. The company changed the ceramic porcelain they used after that period and from then on, the colors of the figurines changed slightly. Likewise, after 1974, a new symbol was added to the bottom of the figurines, which is a small, blue bellflower as well as a chemical symbol. If you have an Lladro collectible figurine that carries this mark, you’ll know that it was made after 1974.

Starting in the 1980’s, the company began producing what are now known as “Little Pals.” These are the first figurines made in the year and they are incredibly collectible. In fact, many will go for thousands of dollars, even though they are brand new. There are also several societies that were set up during this time period. To this day, there are many that are still in operation and membership continues to grow.

Lladro collectibles have emerged as some of the hottest figurines on the market. Whether they are a limited edition, a figurine representing world cultures or something very similar, collectors can’t get enough of this Spanish design house. If you come across an Lladro collectible, you may want to consider adding it to your own personal collection, since many of them will increase dramatically in value over time.

There are several licensed dealers where you can get your own new Lladro collectible, but there are few within the United States. However, there are a few stores that will stock a small variety of these great figurines and you can always special order one if you don’t see it in stock. For older varieties, the best places to look offline are at estate sales, auctions and even second hand stores. You can actually find an incredible deal at these stores from time to time.

Online, you can find Lladro collectibles at many auction sites and once again, the prices can be very low. Just make sure you are dealing with an authentic Lladro figurine before buying. You can ask the seller to take a picture of the defining marks and we recommend doing research on each piece before you consider buying it. This can save you a lot of money and you’ll know for sure that you are dealing with an authentic piece.

Originally posted 2008-08-31 05:00:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Arcade, Jukeboxes and Pinball -> Pinball-> Machines

Pinball machines are very special to many people and over the years, they have become very collectible. Whether you are looking for a pinball machine to restore or one that is in perfect order, they are a great addition to any collection or any game room. Before you purchase one however, there are a few things to look for.

1. Does the Pinball Machine still work?

This will change the overall value of the pinball machine dramatically. Older models may not be operational, and this does decrease their worth. However, you can pick up a great deal on a machine if you are willing to fix and restore it. Unless you have experience in this however, or unless you know someone that does, it is best to look for machines that are in perfect working order.

2. Are any of the interior components missing?

Finding replacement parts for older pinball machines is not an easy task, especially if they are smaller and rare. Try to find a machine that has all of its parts and components intact. While you may be able to locate a replacement, it is simply simpler to find one that does not require sourcing these hard to find items.

3. Do the lights and sounds work?

Part of the fun of a pinball machine is the sounds it makes and its flashing lights. It can be a disappointment to end up with a machine that no longer plays the proper sounds or flashes. If you are looking for a machine to restore, this is not as big of an issue, but if you need one for your game room, you are probably better off going with a model that is operational.

4. Is the power cord intact?

This is a frequently overlooked issue that can have a big impact on the amount of restoration that needs to be done, or of course, whether or not the machine will work. Again, for restoration experts, this is a small problem, but for those that need to get a pinball machine for recreation, it is best to have the power cord still attached, not frayed and completely operational.

5. Are the steel balls still with the pinball machine?

While these are easy enough to replace, a machine that still has all of its original steel balls will be worth more money. This shouldn’t be a deal breaker, but it is nice to find a pinball machine that has these.

6. Are the graphics original?

Be on the lookout for newer pinball machines with vintage signs and artwork. If you are looking for a vintage model, this is very disappointing once you find out that the machine is newer than you thought. Make sure to research the time period in which the machine was made and compare the components used to make sure that it really is a vintage pinball machine.

With care, you can easily find a pinball machine to enhance your own private collection and provide hours of enjoyment.

Originally posted 2008-08-23 05:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Linens, Fabric & Textiles -> Tapestries

Tapestries are more than just beautiful wall hangings, they’re woven art that served to tell stories in ancient times. The Odyssey and the Iliad were both “told” in woven form as large, rich tapestries. Every period in history has had major events chronicled in tapestry form. Even the Old and New Testaments of the Bible have been the inspiration for large and detailed woven tapestry art. Once a major art form, large tapestries were owned by the wealthy and the aristocracy, with castles often decorated with dozens or even hundreds of these creations. The Parthenon was even believed to have tapestries decorating its walls.

Religious and romantic stories were told in tapestries in the 13th and 14th centuries in what’s known as gothic art. While beauty and artistry were important, the story itself was the focus, with religious symbolism and spirituality being the most common themes of the stories. Woven artwork had gone into a lull for several centuries, with large pieces of art done chiefly by painters and by embroidery. But the gothic art movement brought woven art back into the mainstream.

Renaissance art, on the other hand, that became popular in the 16th century thanks to artist like Raphael, focused on image and illusion more than storytelling. The woven art of tapestries followed the flow of other art into pictorial images in the Renaissance style.

Paris was the tapestry capital of the world, with France being the top and most important tapestry producer from the Middle Ages to the Hundred Years War. During the war, many tapestries were lost to looting and pillaging, or burned for the precious metals they contained in the silver and gold thread.

Most of the ancient tapestries still available today are dated from the 16th century Renaissance period through the 19th century, and are usually made from Italian silk, Picardy wool and silver and gold threads from Cyprus. These original tapestries are chiefly found in homes of the royalty or very wealthy, or in museums, as they command high prices and are extremely valuable. True tapestries are easily identified by a look at the back side of the pieces to see the weaving.

Reproduction tapestries, while they sound like little more than copies or fakes, command high prices as well and can still be valuable to collectors who want the original art in a similar form. Those tapestries that can’t be accurately copied in a true jacquard weave are done by a method of hand-silk-screening and painting that can take years. They are often more expensive that woven reproductions because of the time and effort involved. To get a truly detailed reproduction of a large tapestry, creating the perfect hand-made screen can take 1 to 4 years.

Important considerations when shopping for tapestries is to make sure you understand whether the tapestry is an original or a reproduction. Whether it’s woven or tediously hand-painted is an important point that can greatly affect the value of the tapestry, as well.

Originally posted 2008-10-13 14:00:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Linens-Fabric-and-Textiles -> Rugs

Iran is the country of origin of the Persian rug, and still the largest producer of carpets and rugs in the world today. In Iran, investors purchase Persian carpets the way some investors buy gold and diamonds; they know the value will only increase with time. Persia, now known as Iran, has been exporting its rugs since the 1500s, and has influence carpeting designs and styles through the years. A hand-woven, authentic Persian rug is almost always very valuable; the exception would be a rug that was heavily damaged, but sometimes even damaged rugs are surprisingly valuable.

A Persian rug, or a rug that attempts to look like one, is an easily recognizable item. The colors and the intricate design usually make it clear that it’s Iranian in origin. Though it might not be immediately obvious to the casual observer, Persian rugs differ depending on the tribe that created them, and the geographical area where they were produced. They’re often named according to the town in which they were woven, or they’re named after the tribe that created them. An expert can look at the way a rug is woven and tell who produced it, and where.

Older and antique Persian rugs are typically more valuable than new ones, but a new Persian rug can still cost thousands of dollars. Large rugs are naturally more expensive, but you can find some very small runners or area rugs that are more affordable. The design in these rugs can range from several shades of the same or similar colors in an abstract pattern to brightly colored scenes complete with people and animals.

Newer rugs will probably have very symmetrical and exact designs, but an older Persian rug that was hand woven in a village or by a nomadic people won’t be quite so perfect because the loom that was used was probably wooden and not completely precise. This only adds to the charm and value of the rug.

If you have the opportunity to examine the Persian rug in person, feel it. Does it feel dry and rough, or is it pleasing to the touch? Some wool that’s removed from butchered sheep finds it way into these rugs—usually discount rugs that seem far too inexpensive to be a real Persian rug. You’ll want to avoid these “dead wool” rugs because they won’t stand up to wear the way a quality wool rug will. In fact, good wool will develop a sheen after being used that collectors prize as the mark of an authentic, quality Persian rug.

You may wish to consult a Persian rug expert to have a look at your potential purchase. But barring that, consider the color combination and pattern or scene. If it blends together and you enjoy the appearance of it as artwork, then chances are you’ll be happy with your purchase. If you’re buying through an auction, ask the seller if there are patches or repair, and get his or her impression about whether the rug feels dry or smooth.

Originally posted 2008-12-04 05:00:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

There are a number of collectible Pez dispensers out there, including modern collectible Pez dispensers and vintage collectible Pez dispensers alike. Most of the Pez dispensers that were made after the year 1987 have small plastic lips on the bottom of the stem that act as feet, and these were added to the dispensers in order to allow them to stand without assistance. Here are some of the more popular choices for collectible Pez dispensers, including some from each era:

- * Regular Dispensers: The original collectible Pez dispensers were created in the 1920s in Austria, and they were simply candy dispensers for mints. They had plain tops that dispensed mints and there were no characters or special decorations. There are now modern versions of these vintage collectible Pez dispensers that are missing the heads and feet and dispense mints rather than the colorful Pez candies that we know and love.

- * Holiday Dispensers: There are a number of collectible Pez dispensers out there that are designed to celebrate the holidays, including Halloween, Easter and Christmas to name a few. There are Santa, Rudolph and Angel collectible Pez dispensers for example, as well as Easter themed dispensers such as bunny rabbits, eggs, chicks and lambs, and Halloween dispensers including ghosts, witches, skulls, zombies and jack o’ lanterns. Some of these Halloween themed collectible Pez dispensers even glow in the dark.

- * Disney Themed Dispensers: There are a number of different Disney themed collectible Pez dispensers, of which Mickey Mouse dispensers top the list. There are also Bambi collectible Pez dispensers, Jungle Book dispensers, Lion King and Pinocchio dispensers, Snow White and Peter Pan collectible Pez dispensers, Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins dispensers and more to choose from.

- * Star Wars Dispensers: There are a wide variety of collectible Pez dispensers, most of which either feature the heads of the hero characters, or the dark side characters. Heroes depicted on collectible Pez dispensers include Yoda, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo. Dark side villains depicted on collectible Pez dispensers include the stormtroopers, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Darth Maul and the Emperor Palpatine.

- * Television and Movie Dispensers: Some of the most memorable characters from the Muppets and from Sesame Street have come to adorn the tops of collectible Pez dispensers. There have been Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Big Bird collectible Pez dispensers for example. You will also find that a myriad of other characters from the television and movies have become collectible Pez dispensers including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, Simpsons, Tom and Jerry, Flintstones and even SpongeBob.

If you enjoy collecting pez dispensers, then you should know that there are a variety of different ways that you can take your collection, including collectible Pez dispensers from different eras and different styles and categories as well.

Photo Credits: ingridtaylar

Originally posted 2009-09-16 03:42:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Collectibles -> Housewares-and-Kitchenware -> Tableware

The first silver tea set was created in 1790, almost 100 years after the first known silver tea pot was created. That first silver tea pot is now in a London museum and is much smaller than what we think of as a tea pot today, because tea used to be quite an expensive luxury. The era of King George II saw teapots larger, thanks to the public’s growing taste for tea. With tea’s popularity came public demand for teapots, and manufacturers created them, often making each one much more than a vessel for tea, but almost as a work of art.

A silver tea set will at minimum have a tea pot, a creamer pot and a sugar bowl. It also might come on a silver tray or a tray made of another material, usually with at least a silver edge, designed to carry the service from room to room. In England, during Queen Anne’s rule, sugar and milk were used in tea for the first time, so the first silver sugar baskets and creamers were introduced. These were created originally with rounded feet, and later were designed to match the tea pots they accompanied.

A silver tea set from the mid 19th century might have 6 pieces—a kettle, waste bowl and even a coffee post, in addition to the creamer, sugar bowl and tea pot. Because Queen Victoria loved her afternoon teas, those who worked in silver at the time sought to produce beautiful tea services, befitting a queen. So services from this era are some of the most collectible today.
Silver has its own value, no matter what form it’s in, so almost every silver tea set carries a good value based on that alone. The manufacturer and the age of the service, and whether or not it’s complete and has been cleaned, also affects the value and collectability. Silver collectibles, including tea services, shouldn’t be cleaned in such a way that the silver’s patina is stripped away—this drops the value drastically.

But the silver does need to be cleaned so that it doesn’t tarnish. A tarnished silver piece has to be aggressively cleaned and buffed to restore it to its original beauty and this buffing will remove patina and make the pieces worth less, and could even render it almost worthless as a collectible. You should clean a silver tea set with a soft cloth and silver paste or polish, and do it by hand, as gently as possible.

When shopping for a silver tea set, ask the seller many questions about the manufacturer, the age, and whether or not the silver has scratches or abrasions. Asking about how the silver has been maintained and cleaned is important, too. If you want to collect silver tea services, read a little about silver manufacturers during the 18th and 19th century so you’re aware of the more valuable and collectible items, and can judge whether a price is fair, and whether or not you want to own the set.

Originally posted 2008-12-08 14:00:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter