Christmas is always a time to look forward to in any household. But what makes it all the more exciting in our household is the fact that the entire family comes together to put up the Christmas decorations. This has been a time honored tradition in our family from the past several years. In fact, I still can’t recall how or when it started, but it all probably came into being the day my grand father walked into the house with a mysterious gift box wrapped under his arm.
I was just a kid then, but naturally I was curious. So as he came into the house and proceeded to recline on his couch, we all (namely, my sister, brothers and assorted cousins) gathered around him to see what he had brought home. We were all secretly hoping that it was some candy, for grand father had a knack for sourcing the most amazing candy! But then, he was a man full of surprises and one could never be sure what he had come home with.
Grand father saw the twinkle in all our eyes and slowly (almost laboriously) opened the box to reveal – you would never guess – an antique Christmas decoration! What attraction an antique Christmas decoration could hold for a ten year old is beyond my comprehension even today, but to be honest, I was enthralled. Just seeing that antique Christmas decoration (don’t ask me how I knew that it was an antique Christmas decoration; my grand father told me!) made my little face light up with joy. Grand father then slowly proceeded to explain the story behind the antique Christmas decoration.
He told us how a humble pheasant in rural Russia had lovingly carved up a piece of walnut wood to make the shape of the antique Christmas decoration. He then imaginatively led us through the various things the pheasant must have done to create each of the unique features of the decoration till it took its beautiful shape and size. He also narrated to us how the antique Christmas decoration must have lain in some musty old attic till it was discovered by some shrewd relative or junk collector, who, having recognized its true value, must have sold it to the antique dealer from whence my grandfather bought it.
Even today, as we all gather around Christmas time to decorate the tree in our living room, we take great pride in the first of all antique Christmas decorations our grand father procured for us. Ever since we could afford it, one or the other of us has taken turns to buy some or the other antique Christmas decoration for the tree. But even now, the pride of place, the top belongs to the antique Christmas decoration – a beautiful walnut star – that grandfather bought.
Showing posts with label Antique Collectibles Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antique Collectibles Review. Show all posts
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Big Ben tower clock
Anyone who has ever seen the Big Ben tower clock and has not been impressed is probably blind or severely jaded. The Big Ben clock is one of the most impressive architectural marvels in the entire world. You can hear the Big Ben clocks chime from almost all over London, and the elaborate mechanism keeps almost perfect time. I have never been a big fan of souvenirs, but when I saw the clock Big Ben, I knew I had to have a replica of it myself. I wanted to get a Big Ben alarm clock that preserved the majesty of the original. Unfortunately, that was harder to find than I had hoped.
Big Ben souvenir clocks, like Statue of Liberty souvenirs, are generally mass manufactured and cheaply made. If you want to get a big Ben clock that looks good, you will have to search for it far and wide. When I was looking to buy a Big Ben clock, I went to practically every souvenir store in London before I found the one that I liked. A long time ago, every region offered its own unique products, but nowadays, souvenirs are more or less the same the world over. Realism in the Big Ben clock was not stressed any more than in any of the other models of famous places that I had seen. Almost every Big Ben clock that I found was in the wrong color, and most of them were not well proportioned either. Either the Big Ben clocks were too tall or too squat and fat. Either they were made of cheaply molded plastic with a seam where they were cast, or else they were made of gold-plated steel, and looked nothing like the original.
I actually finally found my Big Ben clock at a little curio store in the middle of nowhere. It was not one of those souvenir shops that look the same everywhere, but instead was an outfit that specialized in handmade crafts and antiques. I had actually given up my search for a Big Ben clock when I found their model in the back. It was ceramic and, as far as I could tell, perfectly proportioned. It was an analog alarm clock, controlled by dials on the bottom, but it was good enough to actually be a display piece. I thought that it looked quite sharp, and they gave me a good price on it.
Big Ben souvenir clocks, like Statue of Liberty souvenirs, are generally mass manufactured and cheaply made. If you want to get a big Ben clock that looks good, you will have to search for it far and wide. When I was looking to buy a Big Ben clock, I went to practically every souvenir store in London before I found the one that I liked. A long time ago, every region offered its own unique products, but nowadays, souvenirs are more or less the same the world over. Realism in the Big Ben clock was not stressed any more than in any of the other models of famous places that I had seen. Almost every Big Ben clock that I found was in the wrong color, and most of them were not well proportioned either. Either the Big Ben clocks were too tall or too squat and fat. Either they were made of cheaply molded plastic with a seam where they were cast, or else they were made of gold-plated steel, and looked nothing like the original.
I actually finally found my Big Ben clock at a little curio store in the middle of nowhere. It was not one of those souvenir shops that look the same everywhere, but instead was an outfit that specialized in handmade crafts and antiques. I had actually given up my search for a Big Ben clock when I found their model in the back. It was ceramic and, as far as I could tell, perfectly proportioned. It was an analog alarm clock, controlled by dials on the bottom, but it was good enough to actually be a display piece. I thought that it looked quite sharp, and they gave me a good price on it.
Antique dealers
Although I have attended my share of antique auctions, it is not my favorite way to buy collectibles. You see, at an antique auction the crowd is too rowdy, the room is too crowded, and you have to make a decision too quickly. This is why antique auctions make money – people are used to making snap decisions, and often are conned into paying more than a product is worth. I would rather go to an antique store any day of the week. At antique stores, you see, You get a more personal experience. You can actually talk to the antique dealers at your leisure. You can look at all the wares an antique dealer has, find out where they're from, ask any questions that you have, and in short, make a slow informed decision. People who like to make snap judgments do great at auctions, but give me a good antique book store any day of the week.
The problem with antique dealers is that it can be really difficult to find out where the best prices are. At antique auctions, the price is determined by the crowd. You can figure out what people are buying, what people value, and what things are worth. With antique dealers, however, you are more or less at the mercy of the shopkeeper. Unless you are a true expert on antiques, it is a risky business to buy something from an antique dealer. This is why you have to understand what reasons you are buying for, and get the necessary guarantees.
For example, if you go to antique dealers purely for the pleasure of their wares, don't worry about it. As long as you're not buying antiques that are too pricey, you should pay what you think they are worth because of their appearance. If, on the other hand, you go to antique dealers to make a valuable investment, you should probably bring an expert along with you. Many antique dealers will agree to hold a particular item for you for a day or two. If you can find an antique appraiser, they can come in and take a look and tell you what it is worth. Alternately, there are some antique associations that certify antique dealers. If an antiques dealer is honest, they will get a good rating. Although this method is not reliable one hundred percent of the time, it is better than any other system I have come across.
The problem with antique dealers is that it can be really difficult to find out where the best prices are. At antique auctions, the price is determined by the crowd. You can figure out what people are buying, what people value, and what things are worth. With antique dealers, however, you are more or less at the mercy of the shopkeeper. Unless you are a true expert on antiques, it is a risky business to buy something from an antique dealer. This is why you have to understand what reasons you are buying for, and get the necessary guarantees.
For example, if you go to antique dealers purely for the pleasure of their wares, don't worry about it. As long as you're not buying antiques that are too pricey, you should pay what you think they are worth because of their appearance. If, on the other hand, you go to antique dealers to make a valuable investment, you should probably bring an expert along with you. Many antique dealers will agree to hold a particular item for you for a day or two. If you can find an antique appraiser, they can come in and take a look and tell you what it is worth. Alternately, there are some antique associations that certify antique dealers. If an antiques dealer is honest, they will get a good rating. Although this method is not reliable one hundred percent of the time, it is better than any other system I have come across.
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