Antiques and Collections

[Bucky]

Hi - I thought it would be fun to start a thread about different things we either currently collect, or use to collect.  Examples:  Antiques, furniture, art work, instruments, candles, Longaberger baskets, movies, decorations, ornaments, oil lamps, post cards, stamps, coins, jewelry, linens, cookbooks, salt and pepper shakers, knick-knacks, etc.

If you've been around the forum very long, you will know that I simply L-O-V-E garage sales or flea markets.     You can find so many bargains at inexpensive prices there.

In my living room I have a curio cabinet - inside are:  a collection of bells of various colors, sizes, and occasions (wedding, anniversary, Christmas, etc.), small delicate vases, fluted mint bowls and trays, Fenton ware (bells & small fluted baskets), glass relish trays, glass nut dishes, candle holders from our wedding and a few other things.

I also have a collection of glass snack sets that were popular in the 1950's.  In fact, I bought two sets from my parents that were a wedding gift of theirs from 1950.  I also have a set of 8 milk glass w/grape design snack sets given to me by my Great Aunt since she knew I collected them, which I cherish as she is no longer living.  I've picked up at least four other sets along the way at garage sales.  Even though all these dishes don't match each other, they are fun to use for special occasions such as baby or wedding showers, etc.

I also like to find, and own a few, mixing bowls from the 1950's/60's.  I have a set of those primary colored Pyrex bowls from the 1950's.  They remind me of my childhood as my mom had a set.  I found my set at a garage sale for . . . drum roll . . . $1 for the set!!!!     The person selling them, obviously didn't know these are collectible items!  Unfortunately, I broke one of the bowls before I got it home (dumb move on my part setting the bag on the seat of the car instead of the floor . . . duh!!  I was heartbroken about that!!!).  However, I was lucky and found the bowl I had broke later for 50c.     I also have several of my late MIL's mixing bowls from the 1940's-60's.

I guess, now that I think about it, a lot of my collections are nostalgic related . . something that warms my heart from days gone by.  As I have mentioned before, if you want to find QUALITY items that will last, shop at antique shops - these items have stood the test of time and are still usable items - versus the cheaply made, mass produced items of today.   

So, what do you currently collect, or use to collect?  And don't say DOCTORS, BILLS or DUST!!!   

Bucky

P.S.  I think I have done a thread similar to this one once before, but I couldn't find it. 

[Joe S.]

Technical Books, Erector Sets, Computers, and Lego Robotics. I still have some of the books but the rest are gone.

[Linda196]

Depression glass, cookbooks (one from 1930), giclee prints (some of my own), angels, and scrapbooking papers and embellishments.

My favourite antiques are hubby and I, but I also have some family furniture, handed down from my grandparents.

[Cheryl]

I collect windchimes (love them!)  Because I was an elementary teacher for many years, I have collections of apples and angels.  I have a huge collection of Christmas mugs  .

I also collect sand samples.   I bring some home from every beach we visit, and my children bring me a sample when they travel.  I put them in little clear glass containers with corks and label them on the bottom.   The textures and colors vary a lot.  It's a free souvenir that stirs great memories.

[A66eyroad]

I collect books, especially first editions. I have almost all of Stephen King's books in first edition, they take up two whole shelves! (Not Carrie, though.)

I also have several first edition Kurt Vonnegut books (including Slaughterhouse Five, which is a large-format paperback, and a signed first edition of Timequake) and a first edition of Watership Down. And a signed first edition of Ender's Game.

And an autographed first edition of Jimmy Carter's Christmas in Plains.

My husband and I bought a new house and converted one of the bedrooms into a library with bookcases on all four walls thinking this could hold our collection. Nope! Our books have spilled out into his office where we've got three big built-ins, our bedroom which has three book cases, our living room which has one built-in bookcase next to the fireplace (which holds all my Vonnegut books - two shelves worth!) and another free-standing one.

Our music room has another bookcase dedicated to hymnals, piano books and guitar books. Oh, and one harmonica book.

I also have a pile of coffee table-type books next to my bed that I use for an endtable.

I also collect hands. Most of them are porcelain, milk glass, brass. Some are ashtrays.

And Pfaltzgraff dishes -- Folk Art pattern.

And cobalt glass stuff.

Also I have five guitars.

But mostly I collect books.

[Scottietottie]

I collect clutter - but not really intentionally.

[Pisces24]

I used to collect salt & pepper shakers years ago and still have about 1,000+ in boxes. I really don't collect much of em anymore and they cost more than 25-50 cents at garage sales now.
Lately, I have been finding funny mugs or ones with cats on them that I can't resist to buy. I guess 10 can be a collection?

[Meld256]

Scottie, I can relate to your answer...

Bucky, as you might know, I'm more of a cleaning out person than a collector but your story about the Pyrex bowls caught my eye.  That's amazing that you found those for $1. 

One of the things I have kept of my mother's is her set of Pyrex bowls from the 50's.  I have all but the big yellow one-she used to make and serve potato salad in it and it broke in one of their moves.   

They are in great shape (just a scratch or two) and a while back I looked around eBay curious as to if they were collectibles- I was amazed that they were selling for between $65-$125.  I'll never sell mine; too sentimental for me. 

[Luna]

I love yard sales also.. And thrift shops.. One of the things  I collect is hand made instruments. Mostly drums and tamborines.. I do have some moraccas and a couple of flutes.. I used to collect masks.. Unique masks. Not the ones you can get at the gift stores.. I gave them all away one year. Dont know why, but I got tired of looking at all of them.. I am sure I could have made some money selling them. Had one of a kinds and some were painted with gold.. Some were pewter from africa... Oh well, I put them in good hands. Now it is instruments and buttons.. I have collected buttons sinse I was a kid. Love my buttons.. Oh, and I have a collection of spheres.. Precious and semi precious stone spheres..

Luna

[Bucky]

Now it is instruments and buttons.. I have collected buttons sinse I was a kid. Love my buttons.

What kind of buttons?  Buttons that are used on clothing or advertising, political, promotional, souvenir, etc. buttons?

My mom used to have this sewing basket that was full of all kinds of different buttons used for clothing - I always liked looking through it.

One time I sorted through the basket and picked out all the red, white and blue ones and put them into a mason jar and used it as a decoration.  I still have it.   

I collect books, especially first editions.

Wow, A66eyroad, you have a LOT of books!!!

I have a couple that are over 100 yrs. old.  Opening a Chestnut Burr - 1902, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm - 1903.

I also have two that say: "This book, while produced under wartime conditions, in full compliance with government regulations for the conservation of paper and other essential materials, is COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED."   Those books being:  Black Beauty and Alice In Wonderland.

I collect windchimes (love them!).  I also collect sand samples.

Do you hang these wind chimes outside?  I like the sound of wind chimes, but I won't let hubby hang one he got as a gift on our front porch because it is always windy here and I have super sensitive hearing and those wind chimes would drive me nuts when I'm trying to sleep.

I knew "somebody" collected sand samples but I couldn't remember who . . . now, I remember!!   

It's fun to read what kind of things we all collect.

Bucky

[4Kids]

Tea cups and china--I have my Great Grand mother's set from the early 1900s, some of her mothers as well as several different tea cups. As a matter of fact, I have a teacup from every grandmother and Aunt and one for my girls too.

Cookbooks, although I had to give up a bit on some of them. I have my Great Grandmother's first cookbook from the 20s, with her notes, as well as her handwritten book. I have one from 1898 which is in the family, other side.

And fabric, because I keep thinking I will start quilting but haven't found time yet. BUT I will!!!

[popperkristy]

I collect key chains because they are small but make great keepsakes from vacations! I have several fron family & friends thay went away but brought key chains back for me. I have them in a box and always like to dig them out every so often to look back & remember.  I was obsessed with stuffed animals when I was young and had a huge collection but since having my 1st son 12years ago most of my collection has been donated to good causes. I also liked PEZ dispensers but I think it was the candy more so then the dispenser...it carried over to my son though bc he has a collection of PEZ dispensers and we find them at thrift stores or yard sales real cheap!

[lynnmarie219]

Unfortunately I probably collect too many things...thus the problem I have with clutter. 

But seriously....I haven always collected little trinkets from the places I have traveled to (magnets, key chains, pins/buttons). I also collect angels...have a lot of them in all forms throughout the house.

I have also inherited my dad's mug/stein collection after he passed a couple of years ago. He had them all on shelves in the family area nicely displayed....I still have them in totes for now!