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Collecting and collections

Oakling

Just something small from me on a Sunday morning after a short break from here.

Does anyone else collect things or have something that they enjoy spending their time looking at? It’s possible there is already a thread like this somewhere, but I’m never sure about the etiquette linked to old threads.

I have always collected small things. As a child I used to have a shelf above my radiator that I used to set up almost like a museum exhibition for all of my intriguing items. Things like interesting stones, tiny toys and old coins would be part of my collections. Whenever I have a sort out, I often find many of the things that I squirrel away without realising it. I now have an area in my garage that is dedicated to this old style of collecting that I did as a child. I sometimes accompany the things I collect with a book linked to it, if I find one. For example I have recently bought a book on silver marks (which are tiny and therefore captured my attention immediately), so would like to find some thing to go with this book.

Other things I love to collect include trading cards such as Pokémon cards (but only the earlier examples) and interesting rocks and minerals.

Do you have anything that you collect or just enjoy to look at/ be around?

Parents

  • Hi - yes definitely! I love that idea of ‘a cabinet of curiosities’ - small treasures. When I was very young I found (in a field) the site of an old Victorian rubbish tip and I collected loads of little bits of broken Victorian pottery with lots of different prints and colours on them. I loved doing that. In more recent years I’ve loved antiques fairs and have collected small buddhist and Hindu statues whenever I can find them, and small bronze or silver items that are unusual or curious in some way. I also collect semi precious gemstones and crystals. I also like Arts and Crafts items, and Persian copper bowls.  Lots of things. But the small statues are my favourite - I get so much pleasure from those. They are hard to find though (good ones anyway). 

Reply

  • Hi - yes definitely! I love that idea of ‘a cabinet of curiosities’ - small treasures. When I was very young I found (in a field) the site of an old Victorian rubbish tip and I collected loads of little bits of broken Victorian pottery with lots of different prints and colours on them. I loved doing that. In more recent years I’ve loved antiques fairs and have collected small buddhist and Hindu statues whenever I can find them, and small bronze or silver items that are unusual or curious in some way. I also collect semi precious gemstones and crystals. I also like Arts and Crafts items, and Persian copper bowls.  Lots of things. But the small statues are my favourite - I get so much pleasure from those. They are hard to find though (good ones anyway). 

Children
  • in reply to Kate Kestrel

    I like the name ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’. The word ‘curiosities’ would definitely have summed up my old radiator shelf collection. It was very eclectic. My mum was a dental nurse so she used to be able to bring home these incredibly small pots that were made of a clear plastic. They had an opaque base and small foam pad, the top part was clear. These made excellent miniature ‘museum display cases’ for anything small enough to fit into them.

    I too collect semi-precious gemstones, so can understand the appeal. I also like the sound of the copper bowls! I have some very miniature wooden bowls that were turned in a lathe that I enjoy, but something like that made from copper would be nice I imagine.

    To be out in the field you described must have been exciting though- finding the treasures yourself would have been very satisfying. That’s how I feel when I find a new rock/mineral that grabs my attention. 

    Are the statues you collect carved? If so, what materials are they typically made of?