Spring is here at last. Nature is coming to life after its long slumber. Collectors of fine antiques love the season. They know spring has nurtured the creativity of craftsmen for centuries. Many beautiful items have the spring as their theme. Life is wonderful in spring.
The pace of events quicken in springtime. Birds are mating. Fish are leaping. Bees are humming. Beavers are constructing dams. You get the picture. Inspiration is everywhere summoning collectors. Sunshine has sharpened the eyes of expert collectors in search of treasure. The young are treading new paths and finding new meanings. Spring is a won- derful time to introduce young people to collecting.
We especially see the love of springtime in vin- tage and antique items from these five categories.
(1) INSECTS (butterflies, bees, beetles, spiders, etc.) Insects have fascinated man since time im- memorial. There is no culture on earth that hasn’t created artifacts in their likeness. Each species repre- sents a unique aspect of life. Even the common housefly has a place in art. The ancient Egyptian scarab, or sacred beetle, for example, has been used on many of amulets and seals. It symbolizes eternal life. Great jewelry has used figures of insects in splendid designs.
(2) LANDSCAPES (paintings and prints of mountains, meadows, lakes, etc.) Spring calls to mind the beauty of our planet. Paintings, prints, pho- tographs, tapestries, ceramics and many other antiques feature landscapes. They please the senses and stir the heart. They promote ecology. Thus they have endured the test of time.
(3) WILDLIFE (buffaloes, birds, fish, bullfrogs, etc.) Animals were one of the first themes in art. They were depicted in prehistoric cave painting. Through the centuries, artisans have fashioned images of ani- mals in every conceivable manner with diverse ma- terials from gold to glass. The noble lion is an excel- lent example. Its claws are iconic on antiques.
(4) PLANTS (wildflowers, houseplants, trees, etc.) Plants are valued as a food source and medicine and for their lovely flowers. Plants are featured in many antiques. The fleur-de-lis is often used in her- aldry. The shamrock is a symbol of the entire Irish people. The rose is associated with love and beauty. And the lotus is a sacred symbol of Eastern philosophy. Great and beautiful vases and pots in every shape and design serve to highlight plants. Leading manufacturers have produced them.
(5) FAIRIES (any and all imaginative and magi- cal beings). Springtime brings fairies and mythical creatures to mind. Fairies are associated with the landscapes, wildlife, plants, and insects we love. The most powerful of the mythical beings were called gods and goddesses. Children love myths and fairy tales. The mermaid represents the sea. The light-foot- ed fairy characterizes wishes and wonderful transformations. But brownies, elves, and gnomes are thought to be mischievous. Fairy lore, for example, has shaped some antique toys.
The best collectors understand the creative process and have amazing imaginations. What are you collecting? And how are you planning to use your imagination this spring?
To learn more about Rachel Hoffman’s appraisal practice, visit www.rachelhoffmanappraisal.com
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