0ctavias Small Collectables
Ranked #13,221 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #192,861 overall
Not much space? You can still have an interesting collection.
Most modern homes don't allow a lot of space for a collector to display items, but don't despair, you can still have a collection, you just need small collectables.
There are quite a number of categories of small collectables, Wade Whimsies are some folk's cup of tea, they're easy to display on small shelves and some may increase in value as time goes by. Already there are examples which will fetch higher prices than the average through relative rarity. Teaspoons, caddy spoons, and old door keys can make excellent small collections and can even be displayed in picture frames, ideal if lack of display space is a problem.
I have several collections of small items. It's not that I have a problem with space as such, it's more that I'm a compulsive collector and therefore have quite a few collections to display. Collecting smaller items allows me to indulge my passions without compromising any of the collections through lack of space.
The lenses linked to below show some of my small collectables, which comprise mainly of items I expect to increase in value. I hope you enjoy seeing them and find inspiration to start your own collection.
There are quite a number of categories of small collectables, Wade Whimsies are some folk's cup of tea, they're easy to display on small shelves and some may increase in value as time goes by. Already there are examples which will fetch higher prices than the average through relative rarity. Teaspoons, caddy spoons, and old door keys can make excellent small collections and can even be displayed in picture frames, ideal if lack of display space is a problem.
I have several collections of small items. It's not that I have a problem with space as such, it's more that I'm a compulsive collector and therefore have quite a few collections to display. Collecting smaller items allows me to indulge my passions without compromising any of the collections through lack of space.
The lenses linked to below show some of my small collectables, which comprise mainly of items I expect to increase in value. I hope you enjoy seeing them and find inspiration to start your own collection.
Tobacciana
Someone once said to me 'we smokers are a dying breed' and it's very true. As everyone becomes more health conscious, fewer are choosing to smoke tobacco and consequently, tobacciana is one area of collectables which we can expect to increase in price steadily in the next decades.
Of course, some tobacciana, such as the meerschaum pipes, are already of considerable value but it is still possible to find the occasional bargain. Often meerschaum pipes are misdescribed as not everyone recognises the material they are made from. On the other hand, I have seen clay pipes misdescribed as meerschaum so the novice buyer needs to be a little careful in this category.
Not all types of tobacciana are included in my collections, perhaps I will get around to other categories in time.
Do remember, if you buy an antique pipe, it will smell of smoke.
Of course, some tobacciana, such as the meerschaum pipes, are already of considerable value but it is still possible to find the occasional bargain. Often meerschaum pipes are misdescribed as not everyone recognises the material they are made from. On the other hand, I have seen clay pipes misdescribed as meerschaum so the novice buyer needs to be a little careful in this category.
Not all types of tobacciana are included in my collections, perhaps I will get around to other categories in time.
Do remember, if you buy an antique pipe, it will smell of smoke.
Auctions for tobacciana ending soon
Breweriana
Breweriana is quite a wide ranging subject and I've only just begun down this particular road.
I've had the odd bit of collectable breweriana hanging around in the cupboards for a while and it seemed like a good time to see what exactly I do have, perhaps add a bit here and dispose of another piece there. Cap lifters is the first in the mini-series. I could be really corny here and tell you 'that's just for openers' but I happen to know that joke has been done to death.
Look out for more coming in this series.
I've had the odd bit of collectable breweriana hanging around in the cupboards for a while and it seemed like a good time to see what exactly I do have, perhaps add a bit here and dispose of another piece there. Cap lifters is the first in the mini-series. I could be really corny here and tell you 'that's just for openers' but I happen to know that joke has been done to death.
Look out for more coming in this series.
Bottle Openers in Auction
Writing Implements and Desk Top Items
Writing ephemera and other desktop implements such as ink wells, pens, stamp boxes, rulers, seals etc, are very popular collectables and an extremely diverse group of items.
Probably the most instantly memorable in this category would be paperweights, some of which can fetch extremely high prices. Next to that, everyone will have seen some of the highly elaborate pen stands and inkwells which date to Victorian times.
Not everything in this category would fit in a shoebox but a great many will and are very well suited to the small collectable market.
Probably the most instantly memorable in this category would be paperweights, some of which can fetch extremely high prices. Next to that, everyone will have seen some of the highly elaborate pen stands and inkwells which date to Victorian times.
Not everything in this category would fit in a shoebox but a great many will and are very well suited to the small collectable market.
Desk Top Items in Auction
Vanity items
What is a vanity item? Basically, anything you might find on your dressing table could fall into this category. Powder compacts, brush and mirror sets, perfume bottles and cream jars could all be included and many are highly collectable.
My first adventure in collecting in this category was in hat pins. You might be amazed at the stunning selection of hat pins which is always available in internet auction sites.
And I'm adding buttons into this category - they can be a form of personal decoration.
I hope I fire a passion or two.
My first adventure in collecting in this category was in hat pins. You might be amazed at the stunning selection of hat pins which is always available in internet auction sites.
And I'm adding buttons into this category - they can be a form of personal decoration.
I hope I fire a passion or two.
Hat Pins in Auction
Orientalia
A collection which can be inexpensive is achievable in the category of Orientalia. You need to be aware that most of the items you see in this category are modern recreations of old and traditional designs, however, the same skills are employed today in creating these miniature works of art and, if you enjoy the Oriental then you will love creating a small collection.
It is possible to find the odd antique in this category at a low price because it has not been recognised as an antique, but this is rare. Even so, you should not have to pay large sums to collect a range of Orientalia and there is a great deal to choose from.
As well as netsuke, ojime and inro, you can find some very striking cast bronzes and beautiful jade work. Miniature items seem to be a Chinese speciality.
It is possible to find the odd antique in this category at a low price because it has not been recognised as an antique, but this is rare. Even so, you should not have to pay large sums to collect a range of Orientalia and there is a great deal to choose from.
As well as netsuke, ojime and inro, you can find some very striking cast bronzes and beautiful jade work. Miniature items seem to be a Chinese speciality.
Auctions for Orientalia ending soon
Minerals, Rocks and Fossils
Here we have some more of my small collections. It may look like these should take up a lot of space but each of my small collections is allowed one shelf and, although the odd thing has migrated to sit beside another collection, in the main they behave themselves and keep to their places.
A good example of a small collectable which has taken up residence in another collections area is the Wizard's Egg. Being jet black, this modest egg rather fancied that he would look much more magnificent sitting on the ivory snakes netsuke ... and I had to admit, he does, so he was allowed to move.
This can be one of the beauties of several collections of small items, they can mingle and help to set each other off to best advantage.
You can see the Wizard's Egg in one of the lenses below.
A good example of a small collectable which has taken up residence in another collections area is the Wizard's Egg. Being jet black, this modest egg rather fancied that he would look much more magnificent sitting on the ivory snakes netsuke ... and I had to admit, he does, so he was allowed to move.
This can be one of the beauties of several collections of small items, they can mingle and help to set each other off to best advantage.
You can see the Wizard's Egg in one of the lenses below.
Dollhouse Miniatures
This is such a diverse area for collectables that you might have to choose a narrow niche to focus on.
There are stunning miniature items to be had in this category. As dollhouses have been made for a very long time, there are antique pieces of furniture, ornaments and accessories which would cost you more to buy than the full-size equivalents in your home. There is antique glassware which is incredible in its detail and dolls which would not look out of place in a museum. Collections can be made from any of the narrow categories.
How to display? You can have a dollhouse to display these miniatures but you can just as easily create a room box or shadow box to display pieces to best advantage. Shadow boxes can, of course, be hung on a wall to take up minimum space.
You might also want to consider collecting some of the modern artists working in dollhouse miniatures. On the lenses below you can see some of their work, especially that of Deborah Jackson with her incredible range of dollhouse miniatures and setting. Check out her Medical Miniatures especially, you could create an entire collection from these.
There are stunning miniature items to be had in this category. As dollhouses have been made for a very long time, there are antique pieces of furniture, ornaments and accessories which would cost you more to buy than the full-size equivalents in your home. There is antique glassware which is incredible in its detail and dolls which would not look out of place in a museum. Collections can be made from any of the narrow categories.
How to display? You can have a dollhouse to display these miniatures but you can just as easily create a room box or shadow box to display pieces to best advantage. Shadow boxes can, of course, be hung on a wall to take up minimum space.
You might also want to consider collecting some of the modern artists working in dollhouse miniatures. On the lenses below you can see some of their work, especially that of Deborah Jackson with her incredible range of dollhouse miniatures and setting. Check out her Medical Miniatures especially, you could create an entire collection from these.
Auctions for Dollhouse Miniatures
Collectables for children
Creating a collection is not only a fascinating hobby for a child, it has all kinds of benefits and you would find many of these surprising and unexpected.
Want to teach a child to take care of things? Want them to keep their things tidy? Want to ecourage them to research, to read, to study? Start the habit early and it will pay dividends in your child's development.
Find something the child is interested in and encourage them to start a collection, it doesn't matter too much what their first collection is, they will change their tastes and add new collections as time goes on.
Want to teach a child to take care of things? Want them to keep their things tidy? Want to ecourage them to research, to read, to study? Start the habit early and it will pay dividends in your child's development.
Find something the child is interested in and encourage them to start a collection, it doesn't matter too much what their first collection is, they will change their tastes and add new collections as time goes on.
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