Antique Santa Claus Collectibles: Identification & Value Guide

Customer Review: A year-round reference for any avid collector of Christmas ornaments, figurines, and decorations
David Longest's handbook Antique Santa Claus Collectibles arrived too late for Christmas mention but is a year-round reference for any avid collector of Christmas ornaments, figurines, and decorations. The focus is on Santa Claus alone, narrowing the choices and allowing for plenty of color photos paired with the latest identification guides. Any collection offering narrowed specialty focus - particularly holiday references - will find this a key title.
Customer Review: Great fun!
This book is great. The background text is very informative, yet keeps Santa fun. The book contains a wide variety of items covering many years. I found both the pictures and prices helpful. I'm always very happy with Mr. Longest's books.

Introduction to Vintage Mixed Media Art and Assemblages (Created From Flea Market Finds, Found Objects, Ephemera. or Collectibles)

Many creative individuals like to take salvage, quirky items they find at a flea market, old paper, damaged or orphaned collectibles and re-purpose (re-cycle) them to make works of art. These art projects can be flat such as collages on paper supports or three dimensional in the case of sculptures and assemblages.

Altered Art
In the last few years there has been an increase in what is referred to as "Altered Art". This form of art grew very popular with the scrap booking craze, although artists have always "altered" art materials and flea market finds. Some very beautiful "altered art" can be found which incorporates ephemera (old paper), vintage embellishments (perhaps antique buttons or fabric remnants) and other interesting odds and ends. "Altered Art" also called mixed media uses a variety of materials and products (adhesives, paints, dry media) in several forms (shadow boxes, collages, journal books, on canvas etc),

Art From Flea Market Finds and Collectibles
Another trend which has continued to attract creative individuals is using "flea market finds" and "re-cycling" them to make "functional art". An old Pyrex kitchen bowl becomes a lampshade or a bookshelf is painted a new color and hung on the wall instead of used on the floor etc.Of course old furniture and a variety of collectibles has always been a favorite "support" (surface) for many artists who enjoy "hand-painting designs on these objects.

Functional Art
Many artists prefer to take what was once "functional" items, such as a fork or beverage glass or key and integrate these objects in an "assemblage" or wall hanging in new ways. The fork might be used as the arm of a clock or a orphaned salt shaker is re-purposed as the body of a doll figure. Vintage advertising tins are especially sought after by artists who re-use these materials to form elaborate "Tin Can Assemblages or "Vintage Tin Figures"..

Outsider Art
With the increased attention to the environment, it's nice to be able to re-use treasures from the past in new ways. Let's remember however, that for generations and generations, people found new uses for common everyday items. "Junk Art" is really not a new concept at all. Some very elaborate "junk art" is sold for a lot of money. You will seem many forms of "Outsider Art" and "Tramp Art" commanding grand prices at auction.

C. Dianne Zweig is a Mixed Media aritst and the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art . You can find Dianne's fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT , a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro cafe

If you would like to contact Dianne, email her at Dianne@CDianneZweig.com. or visit her website at http://www.cdiannezweig.com/

Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Authors Guild, Inc

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TY Beanie Baby D'vine Monkey with Red Heart

You'll see me swing from tree to treeAs I shout out my decreeMy love for you I will declareThen you'll know how much I care !

Does anyone remember the old Neil Young song Harvest Moon? This was a poignant classic song about love labor's lost and it is one of the legendary singer's all time classic songs although it was never as big of a hit as some of his other tunes. Yes, the theme of the harvest has been one that has permeated the pop culture and music scene for many decades and some of the more astute followers of pop hits will know more than a few of them. Of course, this brings about the question as to how much a person truly knows about these songs and probably the coolest way to tell how much you really know about the songs would be to test your trivia knowledge on the subject with the "Shine on You Harvest Moon" song trivia game. These songs are not all love songs and they run a great variety of different songs and themes, but they are all uniquely linked to one holiday and one holiday alone: Thanksgiving! This should be pretty obvious to most because, after all, the Thanksgiving season is rooted directly in with the harvest season so it makes sense that they would all go together quite well.

Trivia games are usually a lot of fun for the whole family and part of the reason for that is the fact that they usually center on wholesome entertainment and are not, by their very nature, what is considered an overly commercialized Granted, there are exceptions but this particular Thanksgiving printable game remains one of the more inexpensive ways of celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends so why not give it a try this season? Again, if you are a master of song trivia you have nothing to fear and if you are not all that familiar with it then you have something new to learn about.

Instantly download and play the printable Shine on You Harvest Moon game!

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Estate Auction - Over 800 Lots of Fine Art, Antiques, Mission, Weapons, Stained Glass, and Collectibles, Plus Other Select Consignments - Dargate Auction Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA - 2/3/96

Antique Christmas ornaments are generally very expensive. This is because hard work and skills are involved in their making. A great deal of effort is put to ensure that there are no two objects that are similar. They hand made and require a large inventory of vintage decorations. They exhibit excellent craftsmanship and quality.

Antique Christmas ornaments come in various designs such as Santa, blown glass, Dresden, Sebnitz and many others. The materials used to make them include, beads, spun glass, fabrics, die-cut papers, silk flowers amongst many others. Most of these decorations are made from chromolithographs that are embellished with Dresden trims, vintage laces, fabric and metallic laces. They are used to decorate houses and gardens during the festive season.

Angels and Santa decorations of this type are more precious because they are difficult to find. The makers of this kind of decorations have materials that date from as early as the 1900's. The scraps they use are from all sorts of origins, most of which are abstract, evocative, stunning and fantastic.

Glass garland beads when incorporated with other decorations that look home can be very beautiful. Some of them can be made at home as long as one has these vintage ornaments. These decorations may depict cattle, birds, women children and many others. However, one has to be familiar with the vintage market. They can obtain information from the Internet or from books. Antique Christmas ornaments are sure to add a classic touch to the home decor. These decorations can last for many years once made.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Antiques. For More Information on Antique Christmas Ornaments, Visit His Site at Antique Christmas Ornaments

You Can Also Add Your Views About Antique Christmas Ornaments At My Blog here ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

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Collectible Plates

Plates are the concave shaped, flat dish items on which we serve food. For this reason, it is true to say that they are items that we cannot do without in our daily lives. They come in many shapes, designs, sizes and are made from different materials like porcelain, bone china, plastic, glass and paper. They are used for serving different food items and this is how their names are derived. It is therefore not uncommon to hear of dinner dishes, soup bowls, dessert bowls, cereal bowls, salad dish ware, bread dishes, saucers, platters and salvers.

These dish items can also have their names derived for the season within which they are used, for example, there are Christmas, wedding, Halloween, Easter dish items among others. With all these categories under which they fall, manufacturers have capitalized on this idea to make some for all seasons and with all kinds of decorations. Since they are not only functional but decorative, there are now what are called collective plates, which are more decorative than functional, but can serve both purposes.

Collective plates are mostly hand-crafted and tend to have some uniqueness that does not come with the machine-decorated ones. In addition, they have maintained an air of tradition that was part of the community in days gone. They make wonderful gift items for close friends and companies can even use them as personalizes promotional items.

If you want to have the collectible dish ware in you home, it is wise that you consider the space that you have on the rack. You can use a single rack or multiple ones depending on your preference and the number of bowls that you have. The general principle is to ensure that their design and color matches the rest of the decor in the room.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Plates. For More Information on Collectible Plates, Visit His Site at COLLECTIBLE PLATES. You Can Also Add Your Views About Collectible Plates On My Blog Here COLLECTIBLE PLATES.

What was an incredible accidental discovery has left the world awed and inspired. The First Emperor of China (Qin), obsessed with his immortality, ordered a underground palace built complete with rivers and security traps to ensure a comfortable afterlife. To be protect this "kingdom" an army of thousands was crafted to stand guard outside the palace walls. Each of these soldiers were crafted from terracotta and totally unique from one another. Now you can bring home a piece of history with our scaled down versions made in the same fashion as the originals.


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Collectibles - The Timeless Gift

For someone who wants to reminisce about their younger days, or wants to acquire a hobby that indulges their desire to seek out and save things, buying keepsake items can satisfy both these needs. Collectibles from a variety of time periods, cultural aspects, and even brand names let people choose a topic that has meaning to them and take pride in building a collection of items relating to this subject that is unique and they can call their very own.

Keepsake items currently range from licensed products that are made by large corporations and companies to small, handcrafted articles that are designed as unique pieces and are thought to be more valuable than the actual cost. Many individuals design their own products and these can be thought of as collectibles but most people feel that products produced in bulk in connection with pop culture or history are true collector's pieces.

The most sought after types of collectibles for purchase are often those that can serve a decorative function by being placed out in the open around the home. For example, small porcelain works of art and sculpture are great for placing on a mantle, shelf, or by a window. Such decorative works of art are treasured far and wide as much for their decorative value as their monetary value.

Over the past century, some of the most popular collectibles in the market are those that deal with foods and beverages. Since food and drink manufacturers over the past hundred years have been the main way of sustaining the public, there is a widespread collector's market for their packages and special limited edition items with the brand name on them.

Of note, Pepsi branded items and Coca-Cola store items are the most sought after corporate memorabilia items on the market. These two iconic companies have produced a host of materials over the years that work not only as advertising vehicles but also a means of creating a collectible market worldwide for their wares. You can routinely find all manner of items bearing these two company logos at antique markets and in other places that sell items for collecting.

In the end, any object may be worthy of keeping to someone, if it possesses sufficient value and significance for them to have purchased and preserved it, yet certain collectibles transcend these factors and enter into the essence of our culture. These objects are the highly desirable ones which a variety of people will want to seek out and make a part of their private collection.

Soda-Pop-Collectibles.com features Coca-Cola store and collectibles as well as vintage Pepsi memorabilia, and soda pop collectibles of every size, shape, and type. Also, check out our videos of soda pop collections, classic ads, and more!

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Collectibles Are Fun and Profitable

For nearly every old album, book, trading card, Pepsi bottle, or even Coca-Cola sign, there is a collectibles market to be found. People like to seek out, hold onto and display various different knick knacks and other mundane items they have collected throughout the years.

Some get into the hobby by a parent or grandparent passing them down the pieces they collected in their day and age, others may stumble upon a piece one day on their own and decide that they too would like to get a start in the world of collectible trading.

After you have built it up, your collection might be worth a very large amount if you put it on the market. People who share your hobby and who are potential purchasers attend conventions and trade shows and browse through specialty retail outlets seeking pieces they feel will go well with what they already have. If they find any, they are more than eager to fork over their dollars for something which will, for instance, round out a set.

People have been engaging in this hobby for thousands of years. Indeed, every civilization and era has its own coveted items - some ancient artifacts from these eras can still be found, although they are almost always rare and highly sought after pieces by collectors worldwide. It is these types of pieces that demand the highest prices on the market today.

Often, individual pieces of a compilation will be placed on display in the home of the collector, while others hide their collected items in things such as safe deposit boxes, or even just in a box stashed under the bed. As long as your collection items are safely stored out of the way of children and pets, and in a place free from moisture, dirt, and other contaminants, there is no standardized way of storing these items.

A prized assortment may range from anything including such weird and bizarre items as shrunken heads to insects such as butterflies, while other collections are something as simple as trading cards, lighters, compact discs or DVDs. Some people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars trying to increase the number of items in their set, while others simply collect what is given to them or what they can find on the beach.

At the end of the day, it's not what you collect, but the process itself that makes this hobby so much fun.

Browse hundreds of Pepsi and Coke collectibles of every size, shape, and type at Soda-Pop-Collectibles.com

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Silver Judaica - Art of Hammering Out Designs

The wonderful beauty and elegance of Silver Judaica is not only an avid part of the most elite collectables in today's worldly antique society, but first and foremost Judaica is a backbone to the one of the world's oldest religions known as Judaism. From before the days of Jesus, Judaism had Synagogue rituals that must be followed, and one of the biggest part of these rituals, there would be symbolizing vessels for usage to literally carry out these many different rituals throughout the year. As more rituals were to be added throughout the centuries during the growth of Judaism, there would be more exquisitely elegant items added to the Judaic religious practices over time.

It has long been a tradition to not only collect and use silver ritual items specific to each an every Jewish occasion practiced within the Synagogues, but it has also been a long standing tradition to collect and faithfully using the correctly fitting Judaica piece specified for all in home practiced Judaic holidays. These Judaic rituals was and still is the reason for the traditions of making sure each and every Judaic practice done within the Jewish homes also uses these vessels for each holiday.

Along with taking the religious items of Silver Judaica into the Jewish practicing homes, there has also been a on going Jewish practice of the elderly Jewish family members collecting and passing on many of the most needed and valued Silver Judaica pieces to the younger generations of family members. Since keeping the Jewish art pieces in the Jewish families is so important, this more often than not, puts an even larger price tag upon the costs of the antique ritual pieces of yesterday, and even today's items too.

A huge Jewish family tradition is to keep collecting all of the Silver Judaica pieces that can be afforded to pass throughout the branches of the children after marriage. It is also highly recommended to only purchase the purest of Silver Judaica items that can be found. For example, if you want to seriously collect Silver Judaica for your Jewish home, you would only shop at the Jewish shops or on the Jewish Internet sites that only provides Silver Judaica hand crafted by traditional Jewish makers. There are several wonderful sites with authentic hand crafted Silver Judaica pieces, and in the larger urban Jewish populated areas, you are almost guaranteed to fine only the best Silver Judaica pieces for your money.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Mammoth Ivory to Netsuke and Silver Art

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