How To Start a Porcelain Doll Collection

Collecting porcelain dolls has become a very popular hobby not just in the US but also throughout the world. Who would not be enticed to own and collect these tiny, delicate and beautiful dolls in our own shelves?

Dolls are definitely not just for children. Grown-ups also have this fascination towards porcelain dolls because having these dolls transport us back to their childhood – back when everything seems to be a lot less complicated. Seeing these dolls displayed in our homes would definitely bring back the genuine smiles that we once had when we were still young.
If this fascination towards porcelain dolls is just starting to brew inside of you, then why not start having a porcelain doll collection? You can use the tips below when you start shopping for these porcelain dolls.

1.Know what type of dolls to collect
Before you start buying porcelain dolls, you must know first what type of dolls to collect. Do you want to be a hard-core collector and have those vintage, antique dolls in your fold? Or do you simply want to collect these dolls so that you can put them up as home decorations?

There are a lot of porcelain dolls that are very popular among collectors. These include Victorian dolls, fairy dolls, oriental dolls and even baby dolls! Whatever type of porcelain doll you would wish to collect; there are certainly a lot of them that you can find.

2. Do your research
After knowing what type of doll you will collect, you have to learn some things about these dolls. It is essential to know what constitutes a quality porcelain doll so that your precious money will not come to waste. If you intend to collect antique and limited edition porcelain dolls, you should know where the reputable antique shops are located so that what you’d buy are truly antique.

Again, if you just want to collect these dolls to decorate your home, some little flaws can be disregarded, but serious collectors certainly must be more aware of buying a genuine antique doll.

3.Consult with the experts
Talk with the people who are experts in the field of antique doll collecting on how you can start with your collection and make it grow in the future. For instance, one mistake that a new antique doll collector often commits is having an interest in restoring a vintage porcelain doll. Sure, these dolls already have some signs of wear and tear, but these scratches are what make them valuable as time progresses. You should hold your horses first and disregard any thought of doll restoration. Seek advice from the experts first before making any alteration.

4. Go to auction sites online
The Internet is one place where you can get loads of information on collecting porcelain dolls. Go to popular auction sites such as Ebay to find out what porcelain dolls are popular among collectors. You can do some canvassing already by comparing the prices of every doll.

Antique Porcelain—How to Take Care of Your Collection

Come to think of it, antique collection is such a fascinating hobby for many people. Most of them really have to travel far and wide just to get their hands on the best pieces. They even care less about the amount of money that they get to spend. Antique porcelains are among the collectibles that collectors love spending on and keeping safe. They see these pieces as worthy investments and they really take time adoring all their collections. But of course, one more important thing that needs to be learned is how to take care of such bunch of collections.

The antique porcelain is basically held to be important because of its artistic and historical values. Because they usually come in expensive prices, they deserve to be well taken care of. Culturally speaking, these antique pieces are very significant. But then again human negligence along with a couple of natural disasters or accidents can cause them to get stained or worse, damaged.

Because collecting them is such a popular hobby, it matters that you know of the tips on how to make them last longer. When properly done, you can expect them to last longer that you can even pass them on to your next generation of kin.

The first rule in cleaning your antique porcelain is to never put it in a dishwasher. Sometimes you get so tied up with another task that you want the cleaning procedure to be immediately done. But if you have antique porcelain plates, the dishwasher can just damage them. You see, its temperature can get too hot and the prolonged exposure of your antique pieces to this kind of environment can wear them down and cause them to crack. Also, fragile pieces are more prone to chipping and cracking especially when they get all tossed around during the wash cycle.

Therefore, wash you antique plates by hand and use only warm water and mild detergent cleaner. Hot water and a very strong detergent can destroy the patterns. Avoid using anything abrasive. Use only a soft cloth. For heavy scrubbing, use the baking soda.
Never rub the stains. Instead, create a solution of 1 part water and 2 parts peroxide. Use a q-tip to dab the solution.

Professional Porcelain Restoration
Alright, so, if you want things done by a professional, you will be happy to note that there are actually shops that do this. Professional porcelain restoration is a course training that is offered in colleges and universities to train students in ceramic and porcelain restoration. The students are awarded certificates and diplomas and you can trust them to have the ample knowledge on restoring different materials aside from porcelain such as the majolica, ceramic, earthenware, terra cotta, plaster, and clay.

Anyhow, you can always find a shop that specializes in the restoration procedures that are definitely safe and worth applying to your antique porcelain collections. These professionals should be informed of the historical period of the item to be restored so as to be able to retain the surface and color patterns.

Figurine – An Art Form

Figurine refers to the human made statuettes and the dictionaries describe the word as a diminutive form of the word figure. Earliest figurines are said to be made in the Indus Valley Civilization and they were all in stones. Although it is not exactly known as to why man made figurines, it is sure that in one way it was the graduation from the cave paintings and sketches perhaps out of artistic interests or because of awe and wonder for the supernatural powers that he could perceive. Figurines in the modern day are more a form of art than anything else.

Figurines were used for a variety of purposes. While some were used to serve as deities in religious and ceremonial occasions, some of the figurines depict special purposes. This means that a woman gifted with figurine of “pregnant Venus” implied wishing successful fertility. Since figurines are mainly female figures, so they make great gifts in wedding and other rituals. The figurines are also meant to amuse children who spend their time playing with them. Some of the figurines also serve as jewelry for women.  

Different Faces of Modern Figurines
In the present day art form, copper, glass, plastic, wood and even rubber are used in making figurines. In the recent history, figurines are adopted for playing board games such as chess. Players use differently colored figurines while playing the war game as in chess. Each piece in the game is a figurative replica of its live model. 

Today, figurines made of plastic and porcelain are popular for their adoptability to molding easily than stone which needs to be carved as the only form of making them and glass, although is best suited for molding, is rather used in making transparent figurines.
Unlike the ancient times you can find figurines of all types and subjects to suit your needs and the ambience of your home and offices. It may not surprise you to find figurines made especially for occasions like for example, the Valentine’s Day or the Christmas Day. The most attractive and much in demand figurines belong to wildlife and floral designs. 

Figurine Collecting Hobby
Internet has made life simpler for figurine collectors. Locating an interesting figurine over the net has a second advantage that you can purchase online. You can find specialist shops for themed figurines like Hummels, a very popular one whose value has always appreciated.
Normally Curio cabinets made of wood and glass are used for showcasing figurines, otherwise depending on your home’s décor and size of the figurines they can be displayed on table tops and corner tables too.

If it was a mixed feeling of awe and respect in addition to artistic inclination that gave birth to figurines but what takes it to a higher plane of merchandising is the awareness created by the Internet era.

Porcelain Doll Collecting Can Be Good For Your Child

Childhood is all about learning, but for learning to become effective, one has to inject an element of fun into the process. It has long been held that enjoyable hobbies involving music, art and physical activity can help a child’s brain to develop a “wiring” that can prove beneficial to a child as he grows. So if you are a porcelain doll collector, it might be a grand idea to incorporate into your child the hobby of porcelain doll collecting.

The best age to start in developing your child’s love for porcelain dolls is at 2 years old. Just keep in mind that you should not allow your child to handle the porcelain dolls for long periods of time. For now, settle with showing the dolls to your child and explaining the reasons why you picked the particular model for each one. It’s recommended that you tell your child some stories and use the dolls as the characters. This way, the child can get a kick out of them. You have to be extra creative to maintain your child’s interest in the hobby at least until he or she reaches the age of 7; by then, it’s perfectly all right to allow the child to handle the dolls.

It’s also important that you uphold the virtue of cleanliness to a child as he or she grows up. This can be done by showing them that you make it a point to wash your hands before handling the porcelain dolls and then asking them to do the same thing. Showcase to them the proper way of handling the dolls so that they’ll develop the skill as they grow up.
It’s recommended that you choose the cheaper models for your child at first, and give them the impression that the quality of the dolls they acquire are in accordance with his or her age. This way, a cumulative association is formed in each of the child’s succeeding years, helping the child identify better the value of each porcelain doll that he or she comes across.

But of course, once your children are old enough, it will be up to them which types of porcelain dolls to choose for themselves. Go with them to a porcelain doll store that has a lot of choices. This should ensure that a large part of their aesthetic dimensions is tapped into. An e-shop for porcelain dolls can also be of big help since the Internet gives your children the opportunity to sort through a wide range of models without the risk of accidentally breaking them.

Children can develop a keen eye for detail if he really gets into the hobby. As such, their minds can be more capable of analytical thinking due to the processing of information that comes about in the appraisal of each porcelain doll that they see.

And most important of all, you get to create a bond with your children while sharing the hobby with them. This just proves that the benefits of porcelain doll collecting to children far extend from the ones that involve their brain development.

The History of Maneki Neko

At the begining of the Edo period, on the place where today is located the Gotokuji Temple, it was a small temple where a very poor monk lived, accompanied only by his cat, named Tama.

After the cat died, it was buried in the Temple’s cemetery and the Maneki Neko sculptures were made to honor the magical cat. The Temple is located in Setagaya-ku

  

The legend of Maneki Neko is a reflection of the popularity and importance the cat has played in the history of Japan.

“During the sixth century in Japan the emperor made his cat a noble. In this period there was a strong association with the nobility and the cat, said Dr. Roger Tabor, cat biologist and author of  The Rise of the Cat and 100 Ways to Understand Your Cat.”

The average person in Japan did not own cats. “The nobles had their cats on leashes in the Heian period,” continued Dr. Tabor. Cats were kept in the nobles’ palaces at this time and not allowed to run free. “In 1603 the Shogun took over in Japan and part of what he did was to take away the symbols of the aristocracy such as the cat. Only aristocrats could have cats before them,” said Dr. Tabor. After this time cats became accessible to the general public.

“At around the same time in 1602, a disaster hit the Japanese economy, which had been built up around the aristocracy who had a huge appetite for silk robes. The silk robes were made by the silk worm which had been hit by an epidemic of rats and so part of an imperial decree was that all the cats had to be set free,” said Dr. Tabor. This was done,  so the cats could kill the rats and save the silk worms which were so important to the Japanese economy. Today, cats are extremely popular pets in Japan.

Maneki Neko really represents all our pet cats. As every cat owner knows, their cat beckoned them to take them home and has brought them the good luck and fortune by providing them with love and companionship.

Today, Cats are extremely popular pets not only in Japan, around the world and throughout time. Nothing demonstrates this better than, when the cat becomes part of a country’s culture, history and mythology.

Maneki Neko, the beckoning cat of  Japan, which brings good luck and fortune is a perfect example of this.

Often seen in stores and businesses particularly around the front desk or cash register, the Maneki Neko is a very popular lucky charm. This feline figure is said to call in good luck and good fortune.

He typically holds a gold coin or ingot in one hand while beckoning customers into the establishment with the other hand. He has several names: Maneki Neko, The Lucky Cat, The Money Calling Cat, The Beckoning Cat, Money Cat, Fortune Cat.

Legends
Maneki Neko is the subject of a number of legends. Here are three of the most popular, explaining the cat’s origins:

The Temple Cat: This story goes that a wealthy feudal lord was taking shelter under a tree near Gotoku-ji temple (in Western Tokyo) during a thunderstorm. The lord saw the temple priest’s cat beckoning to him and followed; a moment later the tree was struck by lightning. The wealthy man became friends with the poor priest and the temple became prosperous. When the cat died, supposedly the first Maneki Neko was made in his honor.

The Courtesan: A courtesan named Usugumo, living in Yoshiwara, in eastern Tokyo, kept a cat, much beloved by her. One night, the cat began tugging at her kimono. No matter what she did, the cat persisted. The owner of the brothel saw this, and believing the cat bewitched, cut its head off. The cat’s head then flew to the ceiling where it killed a snake, ready at any moment to strike. Usugumo was devastated by the death of her companion. To cheer her up, one of her customers made her a wooden likeness of her cat as a gift. This cat image then became popular as the Maneki Neko.

The Old Woman: An old woman living in Imado (eastern Tokyo) was forced to sell her cat due to extreme poverty. Soon afterwards the cat appeared to her in a dream. The cat told her to make its image in clay. She did as instructed, and soon afterward sold the statue. She then made more, and people bought them as well. They were so popular she soon became prosperous and wealthy.

Elements of Japanese Figurines – Maneki Neko

Definitions and significance of items Maneki Nekos are often posed with or holding.
	Brinjal is a purple radish frequently used in stir fries and other meals. It has decorated several Maneki Neko figurines, though it is still fairly unusual. It is a fairly obscure symbol signifying good fortune, plenty and bountiful .
	Daruma is the Japanese name for Bodhidharma, who transmitted Zen Buddhism to China from India. It’s said that he sat in meditation so long that he lost the use of his legs. Daruma have only white eyes when purchased. One fills in the first eye when a resolution or wish is made, and paints in the second eye when the goal is achieved. The Daruma Doll or Wishing Doll is said to have the ability to make wishes come true.
	Koban is a gold coin common in the Edo period or Japan. The denomination of Koban was worth one ryo (think of one ryo of equivalent to roughly one thousand dollars), an early Japanese monetary unit. Most Koban being held by Maneki Neko in modern days, depicts ten million ryo, which is representative of a considerable fortune, financial prosperity, as well as an easy life.
	Fish especially the carp, symbolises strength, courage and determination, associated with the will and strength required to swim upstream. The fish in the paws of Maneki Neko figurines may also symbolise abundance and good fortune, because what could a lucky cat possibly be more than happy other than to have a big, fresh, delicious fish !
	Hyotan is a hollowed out dried Gourd in which Sake (Rice Wine) and other beverages were traditionally kept. Fukurokuju the god of wisdom and longeivity, is one of the seven lucky gods of Japan. He is frequently posed with a hyotan drinking vessel, which may have led to their being associated with luck. Gourds in general are also considered to ward of evils and bring good luck, which may contribute to Hyotan appearng in the paws of Maneki Neko.
	Uchide Nokozuchi otherwise known as a magic Money Mallet, is a lucky charm that is thought to protect and shield and bring wealth to one who shakes it. It is usually seen in the hand of Daikoku Mantra, the god of wealth and farmers, who was fortunate enough to have coins fall out of his magic money mallet, every time he shook it, but some Maneki Neko figurines were luck enough to get one on their paws too !
	Money Bag obviously a bag filled with lots of money, symbolising overwhelming of wealth .
	Mount Fuji symbolises family reunion and support from people around us in time of crisis.
	Tortoise symbolises longevity and healthy.
	Prosperity Fan symbolises business or career overwhelming.
	Bamboo Shoot symbolises ever-growing and sprouting in business, career or education.
	Red-Crowned Crane symbolises pink of health.
	Flower Petal symbolises good affinity and concrete relationship among people.
	Treasure Boat symbolises smooth sailing in business, career, love or education.
	Crystal ball, gem or a marble can often be found in the paws of more modern Maneki Nekos. it is indicating wealth (in the form of a valuable gem), wisdom (in the form of a crystal ball used by psychics and mystics)
	Drum symbolises overwhelming of customers flood the shop.
	Book & Pen symbolises guardian watching over one’s education and academic improvements.
	Peach symbolises one’s achievement in career and love.
	Eagle is an auspicious symbolism, so called-the fortune bird or night guidance to ward of evils and watching over one’s studies and wisdom.
	As word of the events spread, people began placing figures of Cats sitting infront of the windows and entrances of Asian shops, restaurants, homes, temples, casino or offices, believing it would bring in some kind of prosperity into their own lives.

Descriptions of the meanings and significance of the different colors and poses of lucky cat figurines

	Right Paw inviting money and good fortune. [per Feng Shui]
	Both Paws protecting home or business. [per Feng Shui]
	Left Paw inviting customers or people. [per Feng Shui]
	Bib and Bell healthiness and material abundance. [per Feng Shui]
	Calico Cat traditionally the luckiest cat of all. [per Feng Shui]
	Green Cat sometimes health or educations/studies. [per Feng Shui]
	White Cat purity, positive things to come.  [per Feng Shui]
	Black Cat wards off evil and stalkers. [per Feng Shui]
	Golden Cat intense wealth and prosperity. [per Feng Shui]
	Pink Cat love, relationships and romance. [per Feng Shui]
	Red Cat love, marriage and personal matters. [per Feng Shui]
	BLUE cats promote intelligence and academic success. Also wisdom and career success.  [per Feng Shui]
	YELLOW cats beckon for good health, stability, & good marriages.  [ per  Feng Shui ]
	GRAY cats support safe and enjoyable travel & attract helpful people.  [per Feng Shui]
	PURPLE cats promote prosperity.  Also wealth, lifestyle, & opportunity.  [per Feng Shui]

This set of 7 Nekos represents the “Shichifukujin“, also known as “The Seven Deities of Good Fortune” – a group of immortals very popular in Japan.  Each member has a different origin, carries a different symbolic item, & represents a different kind of good luck: [1]  Ebisu – god of success in all honest labor, carries a lucky “Tai” fish, bringing special luck to fishermen. [2]  Daikokuten – god of wealth & prosperity, carries a magic mallet. [3]  Fukurokuju – god of wisdom. [4]  Bensaiten – goddess of music, arts, beauty, & fertility, carries a Japanese “biwa” mandolin. [5]  Bishamonten – god of protection & religious zeal, carries a pagoda of treasures. [6]  Jurojin – god of longevity. [7]  Hotei – Japanese & the most popular of the 7 - god of contentment & happiness.

Kokeshi Dolls - A Source of Creativity

Kokeshi Dolls

At first sight, kokeshi dolls might appear to be common figure or ornaments for your living room space, however they're a vital art in Japan. These dolls are usually seen as the absence of arms and legs (a few present day models have refined arms), together with their tinted kimono with flower patterns and geometric forms.

The kokeshi dolls generally represent little girls and they easily became well-known for their portrayal of feminine elegance. These Japanese dolls are often female, although male models are presently starting to be more common. These incredibly of proper wishes and love.

In spite of familiar features, kokeshi dolls are divided in to 2 common variations: traditional kokeshi and creative kokeshi, kokeshi dolls are divided in to 2 typical variations: classic kokeshi and creative kokeshi

Classic Kokeshi

Old fashioned kokeshi dolls were at first crafted by Kijiya artisans within the Tohoku district. They were called "dento" dolls and they had slender and lengthy bodies devoid of legs or arms, and broader rounded head. Originally, these kokeshi dolls got a simple shape with extended round figures colored using a small range of colors.

Hingata

Creative kokeshi dolls, is a more sophisticated doll model which provides mobility towards the artist to imagine the doll since he prefers; they are able to possess any color or style. Also, the body and head can be quite different in shape. Creative kokeshi dolls don't go through the conventional styles started in the Tohoku province; their design is entirely no cost concerning the art work. An artistic doll is commonly a special element, and it is much more pricey when compared to different kind of toys because of ingenuity. The artisans who make the inspiring kokeshi dolls usually are not coming from a specific location of Japan, and often they're based in the metropolitan areas.

These kokeshi dolls happen to be an essential part of the Japanese heritage and today they are a symbol of Japanese traditions. The wonder regarding these dolls is based on their ever transforming style and design that displays the present Japanese modern culture. Classy and elegant, the kokeshi dolls are not only figure or ornaments; they are a representation of devotion and desire to a creative art form which has been gift for centuries in Japan.

Japanese Lucky Cats: Bring Luck and Wealth to your Home!

Japanese Lucky Cats -
Maneki Neko

Japanese lucky cats, or maneki neko as they are known in Japan, are common traditional statues that are thought to bring good luck and wealth to their owner. These cute ceramic cats with their bright colors and upraised paw are usually placed at the entrance of a house or shop, greeting visitors to the building.

The statues were originally styled after the Japanese Bobtail cat breed, and the Japanese lucky cats usually have the traditional calico markings of a bobtail. They first appeared during the Edo period in Japan, and by the end of the 19th Century, they had become very popular. Some statues may have both paws raised, but it is more usual to see a maneki neko with one or the other paw in the air. The meaning of the gesture can be different depending on the time period and place of the statue's creation, however a lucky cat with its right paw raised is said to protect wealth, while a lucky cat with the left paw raised is said to entice wealth into the owner's home or business.

Most statues are decorated with a red collar, usually with a bell, which was a common accessory for cats in wealthy households during the Edo period in Japan. Many also hold a large stylized coin, a symbol of their good fortune. There are several other common elements that show up from time to time, but because they are so popular, there are hundreds of variations on Japanese lucky cats, and no two styles of maneki neko are exactly the same!

Though legends about the origin of the Japanese lucky cats vary, in every story they bring fortune or wealth to those around them, and with their colorful coats, sweet faces, and promises of wealth, it's no wonder they are so popular both in their native Japan and worldwide!

Benefits Of Getting Japanese Figurines

When you are looking for a new collectible it can be hard to figure out what to get, but if you learn about the benefits of the Japanese figurines it is easier than what you imagined. The issue which comes up is not knowing about these benefits and then avoiding getting these because you do not think they are valuable. However, learning about the benefits like how collectible these are, the different characters which are present, the fine details which are seen in the pieces, and how these can become a great conversational piece for you to have.

Collectible pieces are a great thing to find, but for many people they do not think about these being valuable. However, once you start to get your own collection you will see how collectible these are. Then you will be hooked and enjoy looking in the faces of each one of the characters you are getting. Without this joy, you will still see these are collectible because of the uniqueness they can provide for your home.

Different characters are something these figurines are great to see. Now you may be used to the same old poses all the time with the same face, but you need to realize this type of collectibles will have different poses. With all these different poses it will be easy for you to enjoy seeing the characters in different poses with a different face than what you are used to seeing.

Fine details are something which you may have never thought about seeing before in a figurine. With this set, you will notice the details are so intricate you will have to tip your hat to the craftsman because it looks great. Without this fine detail you may think these are poorly made or even worse made by using a different methods than what you want to have.

Conversation can easily die off at a party or gathering. However, if you use these pieces you will notice your conversation will remain strong because everyone will be impressed with these pieces and be curious about what other pieces you have available. Then you will be able to expose your collecting habits to other people and form a deeper friendship with people who are going to become fellow collectors of these great pieces.

Being able to get the best collectibles for people to see can be nearly impossible to do at times because so many different items are present. This is when you should learn about the benefits of getting the Japanese figurines. Once you start to explore these benefits, it will be easy for you to see these are the best items around for you to have and one which can lead to many a conversation. Four of the benefits of collecting these include they are very collectible, the characters who are present are unique, these are typically made with very fine detail present, and these can easily start up a conversation you never thought possible with your friends.