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!

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.

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.

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.

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: