Japanese art is a type of art that has a very distinctive look. If a painting, a vase, a sculpture or some other type of art is Japanese, particularly if it’s antique art, it usually only takes a quick look for you to recognize the art’s origin. Just as every culture has its own specific properties, the artwork of Japan will always have certain traits in common, no matter what kind of media the artist used to express himself.

Some of the most popular pieces of antique Japanese art are, of course, the paintings. Scroll paintings are distinctively Asian, and come in many sizes and levels of detail. Authentic scroll paintings only dating back as far as the early 20th century cost as little as $200, but some Zen scroll paintings from that period that bear the artists name as well as the temple, and are in excellent condition, can be worth as much as a few thousand dollars.

Another popular type of antique Japanese art is porcelain. Early 20th century porcelain pieces are generally going to cost at least a few hundred dollars, provided they’re in good condition. Vases from the 19th century will generally cost at least that much, if not more. Japanese carvings like those on top of wooden treasure boxes can be worth thousands of dollars. Most likely, though, the exact year of manufacture isn’t known, and they’re more reasonably prices.

Japanese art is full of renderings of Buddha, so many antique pieces feature him in paintings, carvings, or stand-alone statues. These can be valuable, particularly if they’re carved of ivory or stone, and are more than 100 years old. Japanese decorative bronze work is a popular type of antique, too, as they often added detailed embellishments to things like bronze vases or chests.
Most Japanese artwork is easily recognized because of the brush strokes and the subject matter. Landscapes are popular, often featuring cherry blossoms and lots of trees. Wildlife is a popular subject in Japanese art, with cranes being a popular bird. And let’s not forget dragons. Dragons have an important place in Japanese mythology and culture, and are often depicted looking like serpents. Unlike the negative view much of the world holds against serpents, the Japanese thought serpents and dragons to be good luck, and very valuable.

When you’re shopping for antique Japanese art, if a piece you love is out of your price range, you can usually find reproductions of most anything for a more reasonable price. Nothing beats the authentic piece, though, so make sure that the seller is knowledgeable about the piece and Japanese art in general. Unfortunately with many pieces of art, especially paintings, the only way to determine if you’re getting a fair price is to have the item appraised. You might want a piece for its beauty, but be prepared to have it appraised eventually. Many sellers don’t even know the true value of the pieces they have up for auction, so look for similar items online and compare the prices.

Originally posted 2008-12-05 14:00:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Antiques and Collectibles At the thought of collectible home décor, one can easily conjure up a number of images, including images of memorabilia, art deco paintings and accents, cartoons, games, toys, videos, calendars, comics, clothing, posters, accessories and a wide variety of other antiques and collectibles that can be used as décor within......
• Tapestries 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......
• Antique Vintage Plastic Collectibles There seems to be a market these days for every type of vintage collectibles under the sun, and Bakelite and antique plastic jewelry vintage collectibles are certainly no exception. These vintage jewelry collectibles include antique and vintage jewelry made from Bakelite as well as from vintage types of plastic include......
• Car Collectibles 101 The word of collectibles is full of a wide variety of different objects and interesting things, including car collectibles for example. What makes collectibles so interesting is that there is something out there for everyone, every taste, every personality, and car collectibles are absolutely no exception to this rule. The......
• Miniature Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Miniatures When it comes to a delightful collectible that won’t take up a lot of space, miniature collectibles are the ideal answer. These tiny little works of art require a great deal of craftsmanship and many of them feature amazingly lifelike details. You can find......

• Antique Bench Antiques -> Furniture -> Benches, Stools: 1800-1899, 1900-1950, Post 1950 One great way to add function and beauty to any home is by purchasing a unique antique bench. There are many different types of collectible benches that can be found in antique stores around the world, but it is important......
• Five Grocery Items That Have Not Increased in Price photo credit: CoreForceLike seemingly everything else these days, food costs have gone through the roof in recent months. Between the rising cost of transporting food from the growers to the market and the increased expenses related to manufacturing foods, it’s no wonder that your food expenses have started to......
• Secretary Desk Dealers -> Furniture -> Desks When you're shopping for antique desks, a secretary desk is just one of the many different styles of furniture you'll find. There are standard desks, of course, elaborate (and now amazingly expensive) Wooten desks, old rolltop desks and variations on all of those. How......
• Chinese Chest Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese: Chests A Chinese chest can improve the look of any room, in addition to providing storage space and serving as a conversation piece, especially if it's an antique. A chest can function as more than just storage, it can be used as a coffee or......
• Antique Chairs Antiques -> Furniture -> Chairs In the market for a collectible that will not only be useful but also beautify your home? Antique chairs are the perfect solution. These are a very popular type of collectible and no matter what type of furniture you’re interested in, chances are you’ll be......

• Planters, Vases Ceramics, Porcelain Decorative Arts Antiques
• Mugs, Tankards Ceramics, Porcelain Decorative Arts Antiques
• Porcelain, Pottery Bells Decorative Collectibles Collectibles
• Price Guides Supplies Comics Collectibles
• Ceramics, Porcelain Decorative Arts Antiques

Royal Doulton figurines are an incredibly popular collectible and once you see how intricate the designs are, it is easy to see why. These precious statues are manufactured by the Royal Doulton Company from England and there is quite a lot of history behind them. The company has survived through many World Wars and many of the figurines that were produced during those periods of upheaval are the most popular of all.

The first figurines produced by the company debuted between 1912 and 1913. The very first one ever made was in honor of Queen Mary and carries the number HN1. The HN refers to the designer, Harry Nixon, who handpainted these Royal Doulton figurines. The vast majority if these figurines will carry his initials and that is a great way to tell if you are dealing with an authentic piece.

Between the years of 1928 to 1954, the company developed a new system to provide collectors with more information about the Royal Doulton figurines they were collecting. A small crown and a number appeared on items manufactured during this time. The numbers could be added to the year 1927 to determine exactly when that figurine was made.

By far, the most collectible Royal Doulton figurines were the ones that were made prior to 1939. You can easily tell if you have one of these rare finds due to the fact that the word “potted” will appear on the bottom of the figurine. This refers to the process of making the figurines. In addition, it easy to tell which figurines were produced after 1920, since a small lion will appear on these items.

There are several different highly collectible Royal Doulton figurines that are available at this time. They include the Bunnykins line, which was made during World War 2. Only six figurine types were produced during that time period and although production resumed after the war, the Bunnykins line remained incredibly popular. Newer models are available today, but collectors seek the ones that were made before 1945.

You can also find special editions of Royal Doulton figurines that are also highly collectible. These include models that are after specific historical figures, such as Queen Mary, or after fairy tale characters, such as Cinderella. When it comes to deciding which pieces you should collect, you can go for these first, but at the end of the day, it should come down to your personal preference.

Most Royal Doulton figurines are quite valuable, so as long as you are certain they are authentic, you really can’t go wrong collecting them. They have expanded their line to include animals and many other different types of figurines that are incredibly popular. Look for the most collectible ones first, but don’t let the others pass you by. In a few years, they may also be just as rare as the ones made before 1950.

Royal Doulton figures are especially fun to collect with children and offer a great way to start a child on a life of antiquing.

Originally posted 2008-08-12 05:00:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Cairn Terrier Collectibles Collectibles -> Animals -> Dog-> Cairn Terrier For those that love this intrepid breed, cairn terrier collectibles are a wonderful expression of their devotion. Whether you are shopping for yourself, or you need a gift for a lover of this breed, there are countless types of cairn terrier collectibles that......
• Collecting Rare Collectibles 101 There are all kinds of different collectibles out there, including rare collectibles and more common collectibles for example. If you are interested in collecting rare collectibles, then knowing how to identify them, find them, price them, display them and sell them are all very important considerations to make. Here is......
• Explore the World of Collectible Teddy Bears 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. -......
• Coca Cola Collectibles Collectibles -> Advertising -> Soda-> Coca-Cola By far, one of the most endearing collectibles that has become popular over the past few decades are Coca Cola collectibles. This company has done a great job of coming up with many ways to create valuable and memorable products that are highly sought......
• Barbie Dream House Dolls-and-Bears -> Barbie-Vintage-Pre-1973 -> Structures-and-Furniture The first Barbie Dream House was introduced in 1960, and could fold up into a small box that was easily carried around by a little girl. Ponytail Barbie, the Barbie whose hair was pulled back into a ponytail with short bangs in front, wanted nothing......

• Manufacturers: Fender Fender only produced acoustic guitars during a brief period in the company's history, but the guitars made during that time have become favorites of collectors and musicians alike. The advent of online auction sites such as Ebay has created an active market for used acoustic instruments. Unfortunately, there are a......
• Basketball Cards Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Basketball - NBA -> Trading Cards Although when most people think of collectible cards, they automatically think baseball, basketball cards are actually incredibly popular. There are thousands on the market and many of them depict some of the best players that ever hit......
• French Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> France and Colonies Collectors of stamps that also enjoy history are commonly drawn to French stamps for many different reasons. These are unique items that often depict the struggle for freedom, and the French stamps from the colonies are considered to be very valuable as well......
• Patchwork Quilts Antiques -> Textiles, Linens -> Quilts, Bedspreads ->Patchwork -> Patchwork quilts are an Americana staple, and these items are also highly collectible. While they are most commonly associated with the pioneer times and early formation of the United States, many cultures produce patchwork quilts and many of them are extremely......
• Skier Profile for Resi Stiegler Resi Stiegler was born on November 14, 1985 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming which is where she resides. She has been on the United States Ski Team for seven years now. She is an Alpine ski racer that first appeared in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. She grew up in prime......

• Figurines Royal Doulton Decorative Collectible Brands Decorative Collectibles Collectibles
• Line Terminal Tackle Fishing
• Models Autographs Collectibles
• Figures, Figurines John Deere Agriculture Advertising Collectibles
• Collector Plates Royal Copenhagen Decorative Collectible Brands Decorative Collectibles Collectibles

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

• Ticket Stubs 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.......
• Royal Doulton Figurines Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Figurines Royal Doulton figurines are an incredibly popular collectible and once you see how intricate the designs are, it is easy to see why. These precious statues are manufactured by the Royal Doulton Company from England and there is quite a lot of history behind......
• Cairn Terrier Collectibles Collectibles -> Animals -> Dog-> Cairn Terrier For those that love this intrepid breed, cairn terrier collectibles are a wonderful expression of their devotion. Whether you are shopping for yourself, or you need a gift for a lover of this breed, there are countless types of cairn terrier collectibles that......
• Barbie Dream House Dolls-and-Bears -> Barbie-Vintage-Pre-1973 -> Structures-and-Furniture The first Barbie Dream House was introduced in 1960, and could fold up into a small box that was easily carried around by a little girl. Ponytail Barbie, the Barbie whose hair was pulled back into a ponytail with short bangs in front, wanted nothing......
• Vintage Punk Clothes Collectables -> Vintage, Retro, Mid-Century -> 1970s While vintage punk clothes are a popular item today, they didn't even exist until the 1970s. The punk movement began in the 1970s in London with a small group of about 200 youth who wanted to go against the current trend. The movements......

• How to Clean and Lubricate Skate Bearings Clean bearings are going to roll smoother, roll faster, and will last much longer than dirty bearings. Dirt and grime foul the bearings and can cause pitting which make rotation uneven and rough. The following paragraphs have instructions for cleaning bearings with removable shields. If you do not have removable......
• Organizing Collectible Memorabilia The first step when you are dealing with collectible memorabilia is to figure out how you want to collect, organize, store, display and preserve your memorabilia. What keepsakes are you intending to hang onto for the long haul, and which memorabilia keepsakes would you rather sell or give up? Once......
• Is eBay Feeling the Heat? In a recent message from eBay they announced some dramatic reductions in their listing fees. Could it be because of the recession or are they feeling the heat from sites like Beezid that feature "Penny Auctions". Here are the changes that eBay as implemented and some that will take effect......
• PPC Search Engine Internet Marketing Secrets PPC Search Engine Internet Marketing Secrets By Lucien Bechard PPC search engine internet marketing is very important to running a successful online business. It allows you to customize your website, content, and ads to show up whenever someone searches for specific keywords. As an Internet marketer it's important to incorporate......
• What is the Best Sports Memorabilia? Millions of people are shopping online looking for the best sports memorabilia. The best sports memorabilia can easily span a number of different sports while including a wide range of different items including high demand items, rare items and cool items, funny items and even some more bizarre items as......

• Doll Patterns Patterns Doll Making Repair Dolls Dolls Bears
• Collector Plates Products, Non-Film Specific Star Wars Science Fiction Collectibles
• Bear Making Supplies Dolls Bears
• Resin By Material Dolls Dolls Bears
• Plush Items Peanuts Animation Characters Animation Art, Characters Collectibles

With their distinctive designs and inspirational quips, Precious Moments collectibles are one of the most sought after decorative arts. Originally designed in 1975 by Eugene Freedman, it wasn’t until the mid-1980’s that the company hit full stride. Since then, these cute little figurines have had quite an impact on collectors from around the world. These are very popular gift items and many people have built up quite an impressive collection just from receiving these gifts on special events.

Precious Moments collectibles typically depict small children, and they are known for their large eyes, small faces and tiny bodies. The figurines are made of porcelain and are typically sized at less than five inches total. There are numerous societies and clubs that collectors can join and out of all of the decorative collectibles that were made in the later part of the 20th century, these are undoubtedly the most popular.

Quite often, the designs reflect certain milestones or achievements in life. For example, there are Precious Moments collectibles for birthdays, graduations, weddings and other big events that occur throughout someone’s life. There are also many figurines dedicated to inspiring their owners, and these will typically contain a small message that is attached to the figurine via a small plaque.

The success of Precious Moments collectibles has spurred an entire industry dedicated to these tiny figures and you can find everything from cards, posters, billboards and many other designs that now carry their likenesses. They are also popular online and you can find thousands of places to share and collect images of these figurines.

The rarest Precious Moments collectibles are the ones that are known as “exclusives.” These will typically denote a certain culture. For example, the Japanese kimono line, as pictured above, is considered to be very collectible and many people will spend months trying to locate them.

The advent of online shopping and auction sites has led to the furthered expansion of the Precious Moments collectibles craze. You can find many rare figurines on these auction sites and it is quite easy to locate the new editions that are published every year. For those seeking the rarest of the rare Precious Moments collectibles, these auction sites provide access that is unparalleled.

When shopping for Precious Moments collectibles online, it is important to make sure that they come with a certificate of authenticity. Although these figures are usually easy to find, there are those that try to pass off counterfeit figurines. Make sure that the seller provides a picture of the certificate, as well as a picture of the bottom of the figurine so that you can identify the marks.

If you are looking for a great little collectible that is fun to give or receive, Precious Moments collectibles may be the ideal choice. They are perfect for children and adults alike and as their popularity continues to grow, older versions and the exclusive series will continue to grow in value. The next time you see a Precious Moments collectible you may just decide to give it a try.

Originally posted 2008-08-28 14:00:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Cairn Terrier Collectibles Collectibles -> Animals -> Dog-> Cairn Terrier For those that love this intrepid breed, cairn terrier collectibles are a wonderful expression of their devotion. Whether you are shopping for yourself, or you need a gift for a lover of this breed, there are countless types of cairn terrier collectibles that......
• Antique Vintage Plastic Collectibles There seems to be a market these days for every type of vintage collectibles under the sun, and Bakelite and antique plastic jewelry vintage collectibles are certainly no exception. These vintage jewelry collectibles include antique and vintage jewelry made from Bakelite as well as from vintage types of plastic include......
• Lladro Collectibles 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......
• Collecting Toby Mugs There are a myriad of different items and trinkets that can be collected, depending on your taste and interests. One example of collectibles that you may have interest in is Toby mugs, a type of ceramic mugs that are sold in Britain. These mugs are created with caricatures on them,......
• Avon Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Decorative Collectible Brands-> Avon The Avon Company has been a respected institution in the United States since 1886, and their line of decorative collectibles contain some of the most sought after pieces on record. The company first began producing Avon collectibles in the mid-1960’s and......

• Stamp Collection Stamp Collection -> Worldwide -> Collections, Lots Building up a stamp collection is a hobby for thousands of people and it is one of the oldest forms of collectibles. For those that are just getting started with their stamp collection, there are a few things to remember to make sure......
• Google Gmail Crashes, Burns, Fries Argh, the world will never be the same. At least not today, as the world awoke to yet another, but this time apparently more serious than ever, Google Gmail outage. Gmail, also known as Google Mail, is a free email service with innovative features like “conversation view” email threads, search-oriented......
• Basketball Cards Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Basketball - NBA -> Trading Cards Although when most people think of collectible cards, they automatically think baseball, basketball cards are actually incredibly popular. There are thousands on the market and many of them depict some of the best players that ever hit......
• Collecting Rare Stamps Online You may already have started up your own stamp collection, but how are you going to set your stamp collection apart from other people and their stamp collections? You are going to need to know where to look and shop around in order to find the best rare stamps, and......
• Collecting Tiki Hawaiian Décor Memorabilia There are a wide variety of relics and Hawaiian décor pieces that hail from the tiki craze, which happened between the 1940s and the 1960s. Collectors seem to get enjoyment from the over the time and often kitschy nature of these items. These items are often purchased, collected and then......

• Precious Moments By Brand, Company, Character Dolls Dolls Bears
• Glass Decorative Arts Antiques
• Toleware Decorative Arts Antiques
• Figurines Royal Doulton Decorative Collectible Brands Decorative Collectibles Collectibles
• Lamps Decorative Arts Antiques