I have no idea what to call these items other than nick knacks, and that's what they get called by most,they are the little things that the past generations collected such as statuettes,figurines,or little collections of things like bells or doll's, ceramic items etc..

This is a thing of the past,and the value of these items has dropped dramatically to collectors, also before you could walk into a person's house and see nick knacks everywhere not so much anymore.

So did your parents or grandparents or you yourself collect these thing's, and have they still retained any value or which ones are still valued by collectors in your opinion.

I wasted money as a kid collecting baseball cards .

Now they are worthless..

RealAmerican wrote:
They have dropped in value dramatically your right about that.

my mum collected china thimbles

I'm a bit of a hoarder - my style is maximalist, in that I like every space to be filled with (largely) tat.

I've a few wizard & dragon figurines that cost me up to about £200, 20+ years ago, which I suspect have dropped in value, though I've not checked it out, and wouldn't want to part with them.

I've some Leeds Creamware & some Mason's Ironstone.

Oh, and those kitchen pots that look like vegetables with faces on - they're worth more now than when they first came out, but not really valuable.

Candle-sticks and crystal balls.

Actually my children have destroyed most of what I had.

There are certain makes of figures that are in vogue, like Wade & Salter. It's best to go for actual antiques if you're collecting as an investment.

My grandfather's partner collected elephants, any kind that would fit onto the shelves she displayed them on. All kinds made from ceramic, porcelain, wicker, wood, pewter... As long at it was an elephant she wanted it. I know someone else who does this with ladybugs.

Gilly wrote:
I love you, you fool.

Clocks and mirrors. I have a 'thing'.

And the curtains Abs...lets not forget the retro curtains...

Ab Origine wrote:
Woah - clocks and mirrors!

See, I've fought with my other half who has no taste at all - I'd have the house filled with clocks and mirrors if he didn't object. Grandfather clocks and cuckoo clocks and everything. I think he deliberately broke a nice mantle clock I have because he hates it chiming. It's so ornate though that even though his pudgy fingers have molested it, it's still there in centre-stage on the mantle.

And mirrors , OMG YES! I've few intact (children I'm afraid) but I'm mesmerised by many of the different period ones. They don't even need to be authentic for me - good quality repro's are ok.

I think you actually are my kindred spirit.

diamondgeezer wrote:
O-M-G, (and I don't type that lightly) dg...you just made me moist.

Something to tell your mates down the pub, eh?

Gilly...it is decided. Ditch the hubby and kids and run away with me. We'll buy a big house and cram it full of tat!! Then sit amongst all the lovely tat like Miss Havisham. No wait, you be Miss Havisham. No...I'll be Miss Havisham.

Ah, screw it, we'll both be Miss Havisham.

Yer on abs!

Miss Havisham

Love the curtains!

I have this tea set


and this one chinasearch.co.uk/buy/midwinter/cherry-tree/

I also have some nice retro textiles. Mr Pumpshaft hates them, so if anyone would like a genuine 70's single sheet and matching pillowcase with a purple floral design...I'd love to see it go to a good home.

LesleyPumpshaft wrote:
Oh. Lesley, I think you might just have persuaded Abs to dump his newly found soul-mate, Gilly.

My mum collects (or just keeps) anything and everything. There isn't room to put a tea mug down in this house; and do not try opening a cupboard door or drawer... you'll never get it closed again.

I'm a minimalist, although I do collect leather book-marks, the sort that have a place name printed on them, sometimes with a drawing. I have about 70 and they are all used and easy to store.

Cantata, seriously, I bought the sheet and pillow case from an online vintage shop. I was going to make the sheet into curtains, but my fella said no

I also bought an awesome table cloth with matching napkins, still boxed in original packaging. Psychedelic blue and green flowers, but again, it had to go and my friend now has that (as well as my puce and purple floral 1970's table cloth).

Leather book-marks, that is an unusual thing to collect.

LesleyPumpshaft wrote:
Really, Lesley - you NEED to be telling Abs about this. He'll faint.

Well, like yourself, I write and I used to have bits of paper stuck throughout books to mark places I needed to refer back to. Then, by chance, I bought a bookmark at a local fete, and that was me started on that.

I started collecting glass paperweights too.... but me Muvva got in on that one and before I knew it, I had 148 of the blighters - too much washing, dusting and storing. So I kept the first 11 I bought and sold the rest. I don't buy anymore now, and it would take a very unusual or interesting one for me to bother with it.

LesleyPumpshaft wrote:


Gilly who?

Honestly...she means nothing to me.

Ab Origine wrote:
If you want it you can have it. The design is very similar to this, but it is entirely purple.

Check out these listings for pillowcases. Schwing!

My camera is upstairs and Mr Pumpshaft has gone to sleep btw, otherwise I would post a pic.

Okay, off topic really, but cantata mentioned bookmarks. This is my bookmark, I think I got it with The Hobbit, from Dillons. I tore it in half because I had two books on the go back in the mists of time I've had it since 1993
I would like a proper bookmark, but this old papery one does the job okay I don't think I'll ever throw it away, I reckon I'll still have it in 50 years! 60 years!



70 bookmarks cantata! That's a lot of bookmarks I think they're a good thing to collect

I want to see Gilly's house now! I've already seen the illuminati kettle, but the other bits and bobs sound intriguing

irrepressible wrote:
That's a very torn and tatty I mean interesting and historic bookmark you have there, irrie.

The leather ones only cost about £1 to £1.99 and are sold as souvenirs almost everywhere you go. I reckon Liverpool would have a good few interesting ones.