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

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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

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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

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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

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