Figurines

King Kong and Other Crazy Collectibles

Fig — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:31:20 +0000

If you are a collector of movie figurines, then this auction may be up your alley.

Photo by MDH in Houston on Flickr.

Christie's auction house will sell the King Kong action figure which climbed the Empire State Building at the end of the classic 1933 film. The 22 inch tall King Kong figurine is made of a metal skeleton but has lost the covering of rabbit's fur and other materials which it possessed during the movie.

Christie's expects the movie figurine to fetch around $240,000. If you think that someone would be crazy for paying that much, you may want to consider what some other collectibles have sold for. Time Magazine has put out a list of its Top 10 Crazy Celebrity Collectibles, and we think that this King Kong figurine is far and away a better purchase. Our vote for the most ridiculous: two slices of french toast left unfinished by Justin Timberlake after a breakfast interview in New York in 2000. Check it out.

Is There A Figurine Thief Near You?

Fig — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:19:16 +0000

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.

Obama Figurines Find Spotlight

Fig — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:14:42 +0000

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:

Your Figurines Can Tell A Story

Fig — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:00:55 +0000

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!

Convention Celebrates Hummel Rebirth

Fig — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:05:17 +0000

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.

Appraisals Go Mobile

Fig — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:47:27 +0000

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!

Archaelogists Discover Old Figurine

Fig — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:51:51 +0000

We have all been there at one point in our lives. We were searching through an old box and found something that we thought long lost. Or you were scouring an antique mall and found a truly old specimen of your favorite collectible. I can still picture the joy of my companions when they do so. So I can only imagine the faces of the archaeologists in Turkey who discovered one very old figurine.

Archaeologists excavating in Turkey found a 16,000 year old female figurine made of clay in the Kahramanmaras Province. Prior to the discovery, the earliest known clay fired figurines were unearthed near Mesopotamia and the Near East around 5,000 B.C.

Create Your Metal Figurine with Shapeways

Fig — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:43:18 +0000

Shapeways offers the ability to turn a three dimensional design into a metal figurine if you so desire.

Although I saw the concept offered under the auspice of bringing your online persona to life, I also think the service would make an interesting service for the creation of custom figurines.

While Shapeways creates your figurine out of metal, will it be long until porcelain figurines are available? While they may not initially be of the same quality as handpainted figurines from manufacturers with hundreds of years of experience, surely we can expect that improvements will be made to the system.

Hummel Museum in Illinois Prepares for Move

Fig — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:31:35 +0000

The Donald E. Stephens Hummel Museum in Rosemont, Illinois is moving from its location in the lobby of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center to a nearby storefront formerly occupied by a drug store.

Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens, son of the collector who created the museum and donated the Hummel figurines to the village, anticipates that the new location will be ready in October or November of this year.

The other Hummel museum in the United States located in New Braunfels, Texas, displayed the artwork of Sister Hummel from 1992 until it closed in 2000. The Rosemont Hummel Museum has been open since 1969.

Lego Blocks Use of Figurines in Music Video

Fig — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:21:46 +0000

Who knew that some childhood figurines could still cause a stir in the music and legal community?

Lego has decided not to allow rock band Spinal Tap to air a fan created video using Lego figurines in their upcoming DVD.

The video, using Lego figurines, was uploaded to Youtube in 2007 by a 14 year old fan. Featuring Spinal Tap's song Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight, the video has been viewed more than 100,000 times on Youtube and was played during Spinal Tap's recent concert tour.

You can view the offending Lego figurines below: