Woodwind Instruments

September 24th, 2009 — Collectibles, Music, Woodwind Instruments 

Collectibles -> Cultures, Ethnicities -> Musical Instruments

Collecting woodwind instruments is a great way to collect not only some of the finest art ever created but to infuse music into your collection as well. Instruments are fascinating and beautiful bits of artwork in themselves, but they represent our history of music which is so important to the development of us as a culture and a people. Woodwind instruments date back farther than most people realize, with one type of instruments believed to date back 30,000 years and a recent find in Slovenia of a hollowed out bear-bone “flute” believed to date back 45,000 years.

Woodwind instruments are unique collectibles in that they’re not just there to look at, but they make sound, and they make a different quality of sound for each person. While the notes vary, of course, a personality can easily come through in the sound of the music played.

Whether you choose new, used or vintage instruments is a matter of personal choice. New woodwind instruments are direct from the manufacturer, are covered by a warranty and are in perfect condition. Used instruments are currently in production and not really considered collectibles, with much less value than a new or vintage items. New and used instruments are generally purchased by those who wish to learn to play or as a replacement instrument. Vintage woodwinds are no longer manufactured and are sought after by collectors.

Woodwind instruments differ from brass instruments because they use one or two reeds. A reed is a small piece of wood that vibrates to produce the instrument’s sound. Saxophones and clarinets use one reed, for instance, while an oboe and a bassoon use two reeds. In each of these instruments the reed is attached to the mouthpiece which goes in the player’s mouth. Flutes are also woodwind instruments, even though there’s no reed or mouthpiece similar to the other woodwinds. Original woodwinds were actually made of wood, but are now typically made of metal or plastics.

Woodwind instruments do require more care than many other types of collectibles. The outside should be cleaned carefully with a soft cloth, and depending on the material of the instrument, polishing may be necessary. If you play the instrument, the inside should be cleaned after each session by pulling a soft cloth through the barrel or by using a special cleaning brush designed for woodwinds.

When purchasing vintage woodwind instruments, it’s best if you can examine the instrument in person or you have a guarantee about the instruments condition, in the case of an online auction, and can examine it after arrival and return it if it doesn’t meet the terms of the agreement or your expectations. Besides age of the instrument, find out if the instrument has ever been damaged and repaired. Also, woodwinds use cork and padding in various spots that do deteriorate rapidly with age and use (and lack of use). When were those replaced, if ever? Also, don’t forget to ask who owned it before you, you might be surprised.

Originally posted 2008-10-12 05:00:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Faberge Egg

September 23rd, 2009 — Collectibles, Decorative Collectibles, Faberge Egg 

Collectables -> Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles

Faberge Egg

Almost everyone has heard some reference to a Faberge egg, though many people simply think it’s some sort of fancy, jeweled egg, without realizing the history behind it or its true value. Carl Faberge designed the first of these eggs in 1885, for the Russian Czar, Alexander III. Alexander wanted to give it to his wife as an Easter gift, and commissioned Faberge and his goldsmiths to create the egg. After that, a new egg was created almost yearly to be given to the Czar’s wife. His son even carried on the tradition, giving his wife and his mother, after Alexander’s death, a new creation each spring.

What made the first Faberge egg special wasn’t just that it was made from gold, but because once the egg was opened, a surprise was revealed. The first one held a golden yolk, which contained a golden hen, which contained a small crown with a ruby, in the tradition of Russian nesting dolls. After this, all the eggs made for the Czar had to contain a surprise. These eggs are known as the Imperial eggs, of which 44 still exist, and were the most extravagant ones created by Faberge and his craftsmen.

Faberge made more for private collections, but only 69 eggs in total were made, and as far as anyone knowns, only 61 still exist. These are museum pieces, commanding up to millions of dollars in value, with almost half them kept in Russia. The Faberge egg became little more than spoils of war in the 1920s, when Stalin has many sold. Until Carl Faberge died in 1920, not long after fleeing to Switzerland when the Bolsheviks seized power, the House of Faberge had created more than just eggs, but pieces that command millions of dollars at auction today.

The term Faberge egg is often used to describe any kind of whimsical, gilded or jeweled egg statue, often with a surprise inside the egg. While some of these may be beautiful, the reproductions of the actual Faberge eggs are the most sought out, and can command hundreds to thousands of dollars each, depending on the amount of gold used, and the original egg that it represents.

Of the eggs made by Faberge, the Imperial eggs are the ones most often created in reproduction, because they’re considered the most beautiful. The eggs that followed often mimicked those designs and were less original, so the Imperial collection is widely believed to be the most important. A reproduction Faberge egg makes a beautiful conversation piece, and allows us to appreciate the beauty and artistry that was created so long ago.

You can find a reproduction Imperial Faberge egg in a variety of places, though eBay and online sellers are easier to find than local stores that sell these gems. The most affordable versions are the miniature reproductions, which capture the colors and style of the original eggs in a smaller size. These allow you to collect several of the eggs and display them together in a relatively small space.

Originally posted 2008-11-12 05:00:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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