Some Basics for Collecting

Having a collection of something can be an enjoyable and satisfying hobby if you put some thought, planning, and research into it. With a little effort you can acquire many beloved items that can be treasured for years.

Maybe you aren't sure where to start. First take an inventory of what you are already interested in. Think about what sorts of things speak to your heart and appeal to your senses. What's that one item that gives you a thrill when you find it? Do you already have small groups of similar items that you would like to add to? Next you should ask yourself what the main purpose of the collection would be. Many people display their prizes in a professional looking way. It can be quite the wow factor and a great conversation starter. A visible and prominent display allows you to enjoy what you have at any time.

However, keeping your items private, perhaps even stored, can be just as enjoyable provided they are kept safe and in good condition. Some subject matter might be good for educational experiences, especially items related to history or famous people. The value of what you own may matter to you as well. Consider if you are more concerned about what it will be worth monetarily to you in ten years, than its intrinsic value.

Coins and certain historic items can be good bets, along with gold or precious metals if you want items that hold their value. If something was a fad or phase it may lose value over time. If it seems cheap or too good to be true, it probably is. Condition will also determine the value of your collectibles. The exact same item can vary drastically in price if it is broken or has missing parts. Make sure you educate yourself on how to care for your items.

Proper storage and cleaning will preserve the quality and lengthen their life. Consider if what you are collecting appeals to a broad range of people. If it is too specialized it may be hard to recoup your costs or make a profit. Assessing if you truly have the funds to make the investment, and deciding if it's OK if you potentially lose a bit of money can protect you from an unpleasant situation.

Thanks to the internet and online auction sites there are nearly limitless ways to find what you want. Garage and estate sales can be surprisingly great places to find little gems. Finding a group or forum that relates to what you collect is also a great resource. Always protect yourself. Be careful of scams and verify the quality before you buy. Make sure you can send it back if you need to.

If you are purchasing a historical artefact it should have some sort of letter of authenticity. Fakes and reproductions can be hard to identify if you don't know what you are looking for. With care and a little time you can become an educated and satisfied collector. It is an excellent pass time and requires very little skill. It is a great way to get the whole family involved too.

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The One Of A Kind Miniature Art Dolls Of Bellabelle

Created by UK artisan Julie Campbell, the miniature dolls are handcrafted to the finest details. Each piece is one of a kind in which one can collect her creations and develop their favorite scenes. Some collectors even commission Julie to handcraft specific themes such as in the movies or perhaps characters from a favorite book. She even had created miniature character dolls based on the movie Alice in Wonderland which starred Johnny Depp as the "Mad Hatter."

Julie is also a member of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) and the Custom Dolls, Houses, and Miniatures (CDHM). Each doll she has created took hours of labor to craft and each piece is completely unique. Furthermore, each of her creation is handcrafted without using molds and each is intricately sculpted and painted even to its almost microscopic features. Aside from this, the Bellabelle dolls have jointed limbs so that it can hold a natural pose even with its tiny body parts.

What makes the Bellabelle dolls more unique is its hand-sewn clothing that is made of natural fabrics such as cotton and silk. Classic and period dolls are even adorned with accessories and dresses that are based on accurate historical designs and details. Their shoes are also sculpted and incorporated with cotton shoelaces and leather materials. Best of all, Julie can create portrait miniature dolls of your loved ones as gifts or keepsakes.

Some themes that are available at Bellabelle Dolls are Regency and Georgian, Medieval and Tudor, Victorian and Edwardian, 1920s and 1930s, Famous Faces, Christmas Characters, Fairytales and Folklore, Witches and Wizards, and also Character Dolls. These dolls measure in the 12th or 24th scale figures. Bellabelle Dolls also have a series called Petite Bella which is poseable tiny dolls. For those who are also looking for a place to display their miniature gems, Bellabelle also creates dollhouses and even accessories stand such as the hat stand that Julie supplies to Miss Amelia's Miniatures.

The beauty of collecting miniature dolls is that you do not have to look for a bigger space to display or stock these wonderful pieces. It is also easier to create scenes of your choice without investing too much on it. These art dolls are also exclusive and that you are assured that there is no other piece like it that is exists. It is like owning a piece of jewelry that will increase in value in time. Ultimately, these tiny creations can be handed down conveniently from one generation to the next due to its size.

If you would like to get started in collecting dolls, or introduce a loved one to the tradition of doll collecting it might be a good idea to start with dolls that interest them and are of relatively low cost. Our Generation Dolls are great for younger girls while Monster High Dolls might be better aimed at pre-teen and teenage young ladies.

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Tips for Decorating Your Home With Antiques and Collectibles

When it comes to re-decorating the way your home looks there are many looks that can be achieved. A popular look is to give your room a makeover using collectibles and antiques from years gone by. Giving your room this type of makeover gives it a stylish and interesting look, so much so that your whole room can be livened up. However antiques can be costly but if you are a little savvy and know where to shop for antiques and collectibles you can grab yourself some great bargains.

One of the best places to find some collectibles at affordable prices is an antiques fair. Visiting an antiques fair such as the one held at Old Spitalfields market can be be very rewarding indeed. If you have a trained eye for antiques you will surely find something that is a collectible at a great price.

Here are some tips on how you should decorate using antiques.
Always group like objects together Whether your collection of antiques consists of classic antique teddy bears or you have a collection of rare pottery, it is always advisable to group similar objects together on a table, shelf or mantle piece. By arranging them this way you will create more of an impact on your guests as opposed to having them scattered about the room and your guests will actually realise you have not just thrown things together without thought. Always vary the size of the objects as this makes them more interesting to look at and will always be a focal point.

Try and recreate an era gone by If you are an avid collector of antiques and rare collectible items then trying to create an era in your room can be challenging but fun experience as it will show just how creative you are. If you want to create a Victorian look then picture a Victorian room and focus on creating that look and try and find items that fit with that time. You will find some great ideas on the internet, antiques magazines and general homes and garden magazines, some will even picture a room. Create the room on paper before setting out on filling the room with your antiques as if you don't get it right you just throw away the paper and start again - much easier than moving furniture around.

Something old, something new By mixing antiques and collectibles form an era gone by with antiques from modern day gives your room an individual look that will really stand out to your guests. To achieve this look try and find architectural antiques that look good, but anything old and unusual will work a treat. A great example is the use of family heirlooms that have been passed down.

Rotate your antiques and collectibles If your antiques collection contains rare and wonderful pieces and you don't have enough space in your room to display everything at the same time, then it is always worth rotating the antiques at least twice a year as this enables you to enjoy all of your antiques while at the same time changing the look of your living space. Spread them between two rooms and every six months change the look. This keeps your living space fresh all the time.

Decorating your homes with antiques and collectibles can give your room a great new look. By visiting an antiques fair you can find some great bargains on old antiques and collectibles. A great antiques market to visit is Old Spitalfileds Market in London where. Here you will find antique dealers from across the country with stalls of items they are looking to sell.

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The Lure Of Antique Lamp Shades

A beautiful antique table lamp or an ornamental antique lamp shade can really finish off the character and the style of the room you are redesigning. One of these elegant pieces of history can create a true period feel to any home, and make itself the outstanding feature of your design.


Kerosene Lamps
The first lamps used way back in the late 1700s burned whale oil or lard, and were being used in addition to candles. In the 1850s kerosene lamps were introduced and quickly became widespread. They were portable lamps, so could be carried about the house, which made them very useful. Although, at around the same time, gas was being piped into houses in larger cities for wall lighting, kerosene lamps were still used throughout the country in more rural areas right up until the 1930s.

Antique lamp shades have changed immensely over the course of time, from their early crude beginnings to the colourful intricate designs, more commonly associated with antique lights. The first shades used with oil and kerosene lamps were simple glass coverings, usually, in the shape of a vase that allowed air to the flame, but protected it from breezes. As time passed, the kerosene lamp shades were made taller and thinner. This effect pulled the flame towards the top of the lamp and made it shine brighter.


Electricity was introduced in the late 1800s and slowly began to take over from kerosene as the more modern type of lighting.

As electricity began to power more and more lamps, not only did the lamps give off a more soothing and softer light, the shades were less integral to the way the lamp worked. This meant that designers were able to produce shades in a variety of different shapes and sizes, and experiment with different styles and materials. The stained glass lamp shades associated with designers like Tiffany, really started to take lighting into new directions. No longer just a thing of necessity, a lamp became a thing of beauty. Considered status symbols and signs of wealth, more and more extravagant lamps were designed, with ever-increasing skill required by the craftsmen to make them.

With more people looking to the past for inspiration, when it comes to interior design, the antique lamp shade is one of the most desirable furnishings. To truly recreate the ambience of a particular period of history, it is the detail that makes it credible and sympathetic. A classic antique lamp shade in great condition can draw the components of a room together by re-creating the same tones and lighting onto furniture that it would have done in its heyday.

As any antique enthusiast will tell you, the careful inspection of the item is of paramount importance; that adage is never truer than when applied to antique lighting.

If you've got the period fireplace, and you've bought the antique furniture to fill a room, don't neglect the need for the correct lighting, and the exquisite addition, that an antique lamp will bring to your design. Just like the lamps themselves, the beauty of your home is in the detail.

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The Uneeda Vintage Doll Collection

Little girls of today still play with products from the company Uneeda which started in 1917. Their dolls are still made of vinyl, hard plastic, and cloth. The company was founded in Brooklyn New York and they were also known as Hong Kong's Tony Toy Company. The most popular creation that the company ever created was the Dollikin series which consisted of posable fashion dolls that had multiple joints. Some of their dolls were unmarked although the marked dolls have the Uneeda stamps inside a diamond or it had the markings U, UN, or Tony Toy Co. Hong Kong.

As their slogan said, "Uneeda Doll is a gift to be treasured", and for this they had a wide offering to little girls since the early 1900's. At present they have a website where you can purchase their classic dolls or their newest lines like the Special Secret Sue in which if you squeeze her left and three times, the doll will share you a secret. Yet for those who are still fond of vintage and antique dolls, here are some of Uneeda's popular designs and models of the past which may be worth more today than when it first came out:

1) Charles Lindbergh (1927)
The doll measured 14 inches and is made of cloth body with painted facial features. The doll wears brown aviator uniform with molded painted hair and brown shoes.

2) Sweetums (1936)
This baby doll came in five sizes (11, 13, 15, 15, and 19 inches). The doll had drink-wet and sleep eyes features. It had stuffed cloth body and molded painted hair.

3) Walk N Wave (1940)
This 14-inch doll had sleep eyes and wore a blue and white plaid dress with a red bow on her pigtail hair.

4) Baby Trix (1954)
Trix is a 16-inch tall doll which either came with rooted or molded hair. It has a drink and wet feature and the doll also came with a baby bag with sleeping gown, diapers, socks, shoes, baby bottle, soap, clothes pins, and Kleenex.

5) Baby Dollikin (1958)
One of the most popular models, the dollikin measured 21 inches tall and had jointed elbows, wrist, and knees. It also had molded hair and sleep eyes on a vinyl head and a hard plastic body.

There are more vintage dolls from Uneeda that you can collect. As a matter of fact, the company had advertised around 400 doll models and designs in 1930 and mostly its doll measured 14 inches to 28 inches. The company still exists until today with their new offerings of high quality dolls at reasonable prices.

If you would like to get started in collecting dolls, or introduce a loved one to the tradition of doll collecting it might be a good idea to start with dolls that interest them and are of relatively low cost. Our Generation Dolls are great for younger girls while Monster High Dolls might be better aimed at pre-teen and teenage young ladies.

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What Is an Antique Roadshow All About?

If you possess a love and fascination with antiques, crafts or collectibles, and you spend your time gathering these old items from rummage sales, antique shops or your own attic, then you will love antique roadshows.

This show started out in the United Kingdom in 1979, and was a group of appraisers that specialized in different areas of antiques and collectibles. The appraisers would travel to different locations and invite ordinary people to come to the show with any items they believed could be of value. A handful of people would be chosen to appear on the show with their items, and the specialist would tell them how much they were worth, or if the items were worthless.

Antique road shows became popular very quickly, and spread to many other countries. The show is one hour long, and the hosts add a cultural element to the show by describing and explaining the history of the items, which adds a sense of understanding and interest for viewers. Usually if an item has no value, the appraisal will not be shown on television, to spare the owner the embarrassment and frustration. However, if the worthless item has an interesting background story, or if the origin of the item is relevant to the location, where they are filming the show, then they will be featured on the show.

Sometimes a local person might bring in an item that they believe is very rare, and worth a great deal. If the appraiser discovers that the item is in fact a counterfeit, and not worth anything, they may invite the owner to be on the program anyway, so the expert can explain the difference between the counterfeit and the real thing.
Some people have been collecting antiques for years, and it does not matter if you are an avid collector, or if you have a random collection of unusual items, you can bring anything to be appraised. You can bring paintings, jewelry, photography, furniture, clothing, toys, blankets, and anything else that has been sitting around your house.

There have also been a few odd things brought to the show for valuation, such as locks of hair, a potato that looks like Richard Nixon and even stuffed roadkill. So, the reaction to the appraisal can go both ways, some people think they have something great and it ends up being worthless, and others think they have something worthless and it ends up being great.

After the valuation, the owner can decide what they want to do with their item if it has a high appraisal value. The owner can be given a sense of urgency for having the item insured, and given an idea of how much insurance they should have. Sometimes the owner may decide to sell at auction, or donate a historical item to a museum or library. There are also cases where the antique may have been stolen and needs to be returned to the rightful owner, which just adds another layer of interest to the show.

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What To Remember When Antiquing For Profit

Antiquing for profits is something that many people try to do, but are not always successful at this. The antique business can be a very profitable profession. However, it may not be as easy as some might think. These days the antique business is really a very competitive market. Antique furniture used as home accessories are in very high demand. Therefore, these things are not always easy to find at the marketplace at a price that will allow room for profit.

The key point to making a profit in any sale is ensuring that your investment is as low as possible. The only way that this can be done is by being knowledgeable about an items value to start with. Do not make purchases you know nothing about. It is best to find your niche and stick with it when it comes to antiquing.

Choosing a niche that is interesting to you personally will be another key to success. If you do not find what you are looking for to be interesting, you will grow bored easily. Growing bored means that you will stray from the things that you know the most about. This leaves a great deal of room for error and falling profits.

With the vast array of different items out there, it would take a great deal of time to learn about everything. It is more logical if you learn a great deal about a few different items. This way you will be less likely to make purchases on items that you will not be able to get a return from.

Once you have armed yourself with the knowledge you need, you are then ready to start the search for the items of which you are interested. The search, for many antique seekers, is the thrill. There are many ways to find great items. Estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, storage unit auctions, and secondhand stores are usually among the favorite places for an antique lover to shop.

When you have found a great place to find particular items, stick with it. For example, your specialty may be furniture. Once you have discovered that garage sales are the best place to find these items at the best price, continue to keep this knowledge at the forefront of your searches.

No matter which place you choose to look for antiques to resell, always remember that antiquing is a cutthroat profession. There will be people out there that will knock you down and steal the item that you are after. They will do whatever they can to get the item first. Often times, these people will succeed and make the most profit in their business because they are passionate about what they are doing.

Being a successful antique dealer will take a great deal of hard work and passion. This is especially true if you expect to make a good profit on the items that you are selling. Excessively many people think that they can just jump in and start making money. Making money at this business will take time and lots of it as does all profitable businesses.

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Qianlong vase sets record price of $69 million at auction

Its been happening so frequently that these headlines are almost starting to become old news. Still, it does make you want to go poking around in your grandmothers attic…

Apparently the  18th-century  Qianlong-era porcelain vase was discovered while cleaning out a modest London suburb home. Other then knowing it was acquired in the 193o’s, the anonymous family who owned it knows little else as to its origins. According to the auctioneer Bainbridges, the vase itself dates from the  Qianlong period (1740’s) and would have  most definitely been fired in the imperial kilns before finally residing in the Chinese Royal Palace. According to the Antiques Trade Gazette, Bainbridges is a small suburban auction house which normally deals with cheaper antiques, equipment and lawnmowers.  Not bad, considering they stand to reap a 13.8 million dollar buyers premium from the sale. Purchased by a Chinese bidder on behalf of an undisclosed buyer, the sale price was not only more than 40 times the pre-sale estimate, but it set a new record for a Chinese work of art. But wait – it gets better.  “About 30 years ago it was shown on a television show called Going For A Song where an expert appraised it at $1300 as a “very good copy.” Poor guy – I definitely would not want to be him right about now.Regardless of whatever price was paid, the real or fake, the vase really is absolutely stunning. Beautiful!



The downside? A tax bill totalling a few million.

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Retired chocolate factory worker discovers his blue and white vase is a rare 600 year old Ming dynasty moon flask worth millions!

Just a super quick update post since the folks at Chine Gallery in Hong Kong have been keeping me quite busy these days. Though with lots of cool things there to look into like this 18th century cinnabar lacquer box from Beijing can you blame me?

On to the latest “record price” headline, this one picked up from the BBC. Whats amazing is the guy walked in with the vase stuffed inside a cardboard box!!!

A blue and white Chinese Ming Dynasty vase that arrived at a Dorset auction house in a cardboard box is expected to sell for more than 1 million.

The 11.5in (29cm) vase is the largest ever recorded from a rare group of early Ming “moonflasks” from 1403-1424, Duke and Son auction house said.

The Dorchester-based firm said it was believed to be one of the most exciting works of art to come to light in years.

The seller, a retired Cadbury’s worker aged 79, does not wish to be named.
‘Spectacular find’

A Duke’s spokesperson said the man “lives modestly and has been interested in antiques for many years”.

Guy Schwinge, of Duke’s, said: “When my colleague initially showed me what had arrived in a cardboard box I could not believe my eyes.

“The vase is in perfect condition and it is amazing to think that it has survived unscathed for almost 600 years”.

Duke’s consultant for Chinese Works of Art is Anthony du Boulay, a scholar and author, who said the vase was “a spectacular find”.

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Schrezheim Porcelain Snuff Box In The Form of A Pug Dog for Sale at Bonhams

A very rare Schrezheim porcelain snuff box in the form of a pug dog is expected to fetch £12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 5th July in the sale of the Helmut Joseph Collection of Porcelain Snuff Boxes.

Around 1740, a series of pug related items were designed as secret emblems for a German underground Masonic-styled lodge known as the “Order of the Pug.” Many were created by Johann Joachim Kaendler, master model maker of the Meissen porcelain factory in Germany, but the one for sale at Bonhams is a much rarer example from the Schrezheim factory. It is believed that the Order of the Pugs was created as a fraternal group for Roman Catholics who had been forbidden to join the Masons by Pope Clement XII’s 1738 bull, In Eminenti Apostolatus Specula, and that it was thought to have started by the elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Wittelsbach. Members were required to wear dog collars and had to scratch the door of the lodge to gain entrance. Initiates were said to have been blindfolded and led around a symbol-filled carpet nine times while the assembled “Pugs” of the Order barked loudly and yelled “Memento mori” (‘Remember you shall die’).

Created circa 1761-70 and measuring just 9.3cm across, the box is naturalistically modelled and coloured and shows the crouching animal chewing on a bone, wearing a gilt-edged purple collar. The cover was painted by Johann Andreas Bechdolff and the inside is decorated with a landscape scene depicting a figure facing a building across a gully.

The box is one of 80 from the Helmut Joseph Collection which are to be auctioned at Bonhams. The collection gives a comprehensive overview of the history of European ceramics in snuff boxes, with examples from all major factories including Doccia, Meissen, Fulda and Sevres. These exceptional and exquisite objects were considered the pinnacle of refined 18th century court culture at its most luxurious and the collection has been exhibited in the world-renowned institutions of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (1972-2000), alongside the Gilbert Collection in Somerset House (2003-2008) and most recently at the Bowes Museum, Co. Durham. Rich in detail and made from precious materials these gem-like pieces were among the most precious and intimate gifts bestowed by princes and monarchs. The entire collection is estimated to fetch £800,000-1,000,000.

Prolonged exposure to air causes snuff to dry out and lose its quality, so pocket snuff boxes were designed to be airtight containers with strong hinges, generally with enough space for a days worth of snuff only.
The examples for sale at Bonhams come from what is without doubt the greatest collection of snuff boxes in the 20th century, formed by Helmut Joseph. Joseph began collecting boxes following the example of his father, who already has a substantial collection before WWII. A real connoisseur of early Meissen porcelain, he had a profound and intimate relationship with his subject, and a deep knowledge of the field. Helmut Joseph generously made his collection available to the public; he always showed an interest in sharing information, and indeed supporting the development of knowledge on ceramics, be it by funding museums, or publishing his own collection.

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