I have been told by friends and associates that I have a lot of collections. They are correct, but many have just ‘happened’ over the years. For example, mother-in-law gives me a Roseville vase and we begin to add to the grouping. Or my daughter brings me a teapot from a trip to France and I start up another collection. A farm auction that features lots of primitives offers up a box of glass paperweights, for ‘cheap’, and I raise the paddle. Voila! A new collection is started.

But if I had my ‘druthers’, I’d love to collect high-end jewelry.. And I have no doubt who the pieces would be from – the incredibly talented Rene’ Lalique. Lalique lived from 1860 to 1945 and his works were in two very distinctive styles: Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Two of my all-time favorites! He was well-respected as a jewelry designer and maker but also renowned for his goldsmithing and glass making. He started using glass in his jewelry as early as 1890. In 1908 he was commissioned by Coty to design a range of scent bottles, and from then on he concentrated exclusively in glass.

As long as this is a dream sequence, I think I’ll select several treasures to start my collection. Lalique’s jewelry is very dramatic, works of art really. His pieces were comprised of a wide variety of materials. One of my favorites would have to be this this fantastic Grasshopper necklace, made of horn and pearls, circa 1902.

Another favorite is this romantic “Kiss” pendant, from 1904, made of gold, enamel and rock crystal. I can almost picture this on a gold chain, entering a room, all heads turning.

And who could resist this Water Lilies pendant made of gold, glass and opals. It’s breath-taking and would dazzle my friends and family. Of course, it would make the codicil to the will a lot more difficult. Both of my daughters and all three granddaughters would be drooling over this one!

But the best of all would be this incredible Dragonfly corsage ornament (circa 1897.) Made of gold, enamel, chrysoprase, moonstones and diamonds, it is a show-stopper. Of course, we are talking a ‘price is no object’ scenario.

Maybe if I reminded hubby that my birthday is only 8 months away, he’d break down. (But, it would probably be another type of break down.) Or I could say that if he bought me one of these I would NEVER ASK FOR ANOTHER GIFT, EVER. But he’d know better.

Well, time to wake up and go back to the real world. While I do hunt in antique stores, at auctions, and estate sales regularly, not one of these masterpieces has surfaced. Wish me luck in my continuing search!

Among our most valuable collections, one that has proven priceless at times, are the antique collectibles books we have in our home library.

The collection, with over 130 volumes, consists of four types, price guides such as the Kovel’s Antiques & Collectibles Price List ( Ralph and Terry Kovel) or Warman’s Antiques and Collectibles Price Guides, (Krause Publishing Co.)

Product specific books aimed at the more serious collector that provides a narrow focus with greater depth of knowledge on the items and manufacturers, giving clues to help identify and date a piece.

Third are the encyclopedia types, U.S. Marks by Lois Lehner (Great Book), Antique Collector’s Dictionary by Donald Cowie and Keith Henshaw, Kovel’s New Dictionary of Marks.

Last are the pretty picture books featuring items we only hope to find, two on Tiffany, one on Lalique.

Many of the volumes are produced by two companies, Collector Books, PO Box 3009 Paducah, KY 42002-3009 (CB)

and Krause Publishing Co., 700 East State St. Iola, WI, 54990 (KP)

The price guides are useful for comparisons of value between items (Heisey Acorn & Leaves Plate, Flamingo 8” $25.00 – Heisey Bonnet Basket 16” $345.00 in Kovels 1995 Price List of over 50,000 items and 500 photographs) but give little detail and only very limited pictures to confirm what item you have.

On the other end of the spectrum are the specific guides giving much more detail of the products. Often providing dates of manufacture, lineage of the company, company logos or marks, condition gradings, even variations of like products and reproduction warnings. Examples include KP’s Antique Hardware, CB’s Depression Glass, CB’s Pressed Glass. (Glass books in black and white photographs are more useful for pattern identification) CB’s The Cambridge Glass Co. and a Waterford Crystal sales catalog are in B&W.

My best example of a great product book would be McKeown’s Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras by James & Joan McKeown. If you ever have an opportunity to peruse their book (check your public library or used book store), you will see the value in the knowledge provided.

My copy is from the late 80’s and contains 6,000 references in 672 pages.

Today’s edition (12^th) with 1,248 pages 40,000 camera models and variants, has 10,000 plus photos. (Good to have photos in a camera book.) I’m due for a new copy.

Descriptions, pictures and variations in models are well documented, but the book includes information on how to judge a camera’s condition and how that affects the price structure. One section also gives advice to new collectors.

Condition issues always seem lacking in most price guides, and collectors know you buy what’s rare in any condition at the right price, selling off if a better one comes along.

McKeown’s book states this advice for camera collectors:

1.“If you pass up the chance to buy a camera you really want, you will never have that chance again.”

2.“If you buy a camera because you know you will never have the chance again, a better example of the same camera will be offered to you a week later for a much lower price.”

3. “The intrinsic value of an antique or classic camera is directly proportional to the owner’s certainty that someone else wants it.” - Dan Adams.

These observations should apply to any item, just substitute your obsession for camera.

A great piece of advice at the front of my copy of the book reads: “McKeown’s Law; The price of an antique camera is entirely dependent upon the moods of the buyer and seller at the time of the transaction.”

All the most useful books show great pictures, e.g. the “Hummel” book from 1976 (by Eric Ehrmann, Portfolio Press) shows large photos that makes it easy to identify your purchase. Comparisons of real and reproductions are in a special section in back. Newer fakes can be spotted when you have studied the quality of the casting and painting in this book.

Our book collection began with the general price guides and as we accumulated items for our collections or resale, the library grew.

I had the camera collection started, so McKeown’s was a natural for me to purchase. Many of the books were new and ordered at our local big box book store. Some were acquired at auctions and some at a local used book store. One book was ordered on line when our local book store suggested their web site after the book was highly recommended by another collector.

Our latest addition is Warman’s Roseville Pottery by Mark F. Moran 2006 (KP). What took Wifey so long to buy this one?

Current prices of items in most category’s are obtainable by watching web auctions, so pricing in older books are viewed with a good laugh, and again we see the truth in McKeown’s Law.

The price of an antique or collectible is entirely dependent upon the moods of the buyer and seller at the time of the transaction.

Think of that rule next time you dicker pricing with a seller.

Art deco collectibles were in the news this week when a couple sold off their collection of art deco furniture and art for a record amount at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

The term art deco was coined in the 1960s to refer to the design style popular between World War I and World War II. Although the style began prior to this period and extended afterward, the time between the wars was its heyday. The art deco style was named for the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in 1925 in Paris and featured a variety of works in that style. Although Paris was the birthplace of art deco style, it soon found its way to the United States, where it was eagerly adopted.

The style was sophisticated and luxurious, influenced by a number of trends including jazz, the machine age, King Tut’s tomb, travel, South America, Africa, skyscrapers, the Ballets Russes, and art movements like Cubism, Fauvism and Post-Impressionism. Art deco design was known for its clean lines and geometric shapes. Common motifs included abstract sunburst and floral shapes, curves and zigzags. There was a focus on high quality, with superior materials used to execute the designs.

Art deco style was used to create many decorative arts items, such as jewelry, textiles, furniture, sculpture, tableware and more. From teapots to earrings, art deco could be seen everywhere. Some of the leading artists of the era were furniture designer Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, metalworkers Charles Christofle and Jean Puiforcat, glass designer Rene Lalique, fashion designer Paul Poiret and metalworker Jean Puiforcat.

Art deco design was frequently used in architecture and many structures built in the art deco style survive to this day. Radio City Music Hall and the Chrysler Building in New York are two excellent examples. Also, the city of Miami is known for its many stunning art deco buildings.