Figurines

This is a reminder to make sure that your figurines are properly insured against theft, damage, and destruction.

We regularly follow the news related to figurines and collectibles, and have noticed a disturbing trend of stolen figurines lately. At the beginning of the month in a San Francisco mall, a woman was found to have hidden a swiped porcelain figurine under a stolen black hoodie.  Then we noticed a report out of Britain mid-month that someone had stolen first a Royal Worchester figurine and later a Coalport figurine from a charity shop.

While we certainly don't think we have a string of international figurine thieves out there, and we got a good laugh at the thought that porcelain figurines may now be as in demand among thieves as some cars after the recession, we also thought it would hammer home an important message.

If your collection has value, make sure it is covered by your insurance policy.  You wouldn't want something to happen to your figurines.

I thought that I had seen it all after the wave of merchandising surrounding the Presidential campaign and the Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Memories of Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with John McCain, as an action figure have long since been banished from my thoughts. But it seems that people did not buy enough merchandise celebrating President Barack Obama's victory during his inauguration.

Photo by Mike Baird on Flickr.

Jailbreak Toys is following up on the success of its Barack Obama action figure with one this year memorializing First Lady Michelle Obama. Starting next month, you'll be able to welcome both adult members of the first family into your home, figuratively speaking.

But the Michelle Obama figurine isn't the only presidential merchandise to be making waves recently. Apparently, someone has taken the classic chia pet to a whole new level. In a store near you, you may soon be able to find a Chia Obama. That's right! You too can watch the hair grow on Obama's head.

Now we both have seen it all:

If you are a lifelong collector, there will come a point in time where you will need to choose between two figurines. Whether the decision is which figurine to buy, which one to display, or which figurine to sell to a new home, you will eventually (whether on purpose or without realizing it) develop criteria for your collection. Some choose to collect based on a particular manufacturer. Others base their collection upon particular pieces which appealed to them throughout their life. However it happens, your collection will also say something about you and what you value.

I'm reminded this as I read two articles this week. The first was about an Assistant Professor at Indiana State University who collects dolls and figurines that represent minority cultures in a positive light. You can read the article on the Indiana State University website here. The second was about an artist creating robot figures called Adoptabots out of discarded items and selling them on Etsy. You can find photos of some of the creations here.

Whether you collect figurines about diversity, history, fashion, love, christmas, or the environment, your figurine collection says something about you. If you haven't taken a moment to think about the broader purpose behind your collection, take some time to do so soon. Then, the next time that you have to choose between two figurines, you'll be able to evaluate how each one fits into your collection. And in the end, you will have more than a bunch of boxes of stuff. You will have a collection that tells a story about you!

Photo of Hummel Figurine by Le Petit Poulailler on Flickr.

This weekend marked more than the rain delayed conclusion to the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the first weekend of the 2009-2010 football season.
In Buffalo, NY, hundreds of Hummel collectors celebrated the restart of manufacturing of Hummel figurines by new owner Manufaktur Rodental at the M.I. Hummel Club's North American Convention. Fans attending also celebrated the anniversary of the 100th birthday of Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, the artist originally behind the popular children's figurines.

In the last decade, the internet has fundamentally changed the way that antiques and collectibles are bought and sold. The tried and true method of hunting for bargains and rare pieces at antique malls, auctions and yard sales has given way to a fourth method for buying and selling - online auctions and classified listings. The convenience of searching for rare items using keywords, as well as the ability to view photographs of items for sale whether they are next door or across the country, has altered the landscape of the antiques market. And it has also made it possible for buyers and sellers to exchange items for their collection directly rather than buy and sell through an antique dealer who makes money on the difference between where they can buy from the seller and sell to the buyer.

I was at a yard sale a few weeks back and wondered whether the item I was interested in was a good deal or not. I grabbed my pda phone, launched the mobile web browser, landed on eBay's mobile website, and after a few well chosen keywords knew exactly what it would cost me to buy the item online rather than in person. Later, I used my personal handheld camera and mobile computer (that's my phone also!) to take a picture of an item to see whether a friend was interested in buying it when I couldn't adequately describe it to them. Only a decade ago, these two events wouldn't have been possible.

Today, I discovered that Worthpoint, an online appraisal service and aggregator of transaction prices from online and offline auction sites, is offering a new mobile application to aid its subscribers in determining the value of an antique when they are on the go. Check it out here.

As our phones get more powerful, I expect that there will be many more ways to use them in the acquisition of vintage items - ways that I could not even now imagine. I'm also sure that it will change the world of antiques and collectibles in a way that I have not even thought possible. Until then, you will just have to enjoy the conveniences made possible by modern technology!