Do you know where Sailor’s Valentines originated from? If you guessed that they were made by sailors for their loved ones, you would be wrong! In fact, the majority of high specification Sailor’s Valentines originated from the Caribbean, principally Barbados. These Sailor’s Valentines are now a highly sought-after collectors item, […]
Collecting Articles and Features
Welcome to the WCN Collecting Articles and Features Channel dedicated to all things related to collecting, antiques, pottery, vintage toys, dolls, teddy bears, memorabilia, books, comics, figurines and everything else collectable. Our aim is to provide collectors with information on all aspects of antiques and collecting, from identifying and valuing antiques, to tips on starting and growing a collection, and to featured collectible histories.
We feature hundreds of articles and features on all aspects of collecting, written by experts in the field. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting started, we hope you’ll find something of interest here. Thanks for reading! You can also search for articles using the magnifying glass to the top right of the web site.
The Lotus Pottery Bull by Elizabeth Skipworth
The Lotus Pottery bull is a design by potter Elizabeth Skipworth, that was produced in the 1960s and 1970s. The design is based on the ancient Chinese art of pottery and features a stylized bull with intricate patterns on its body. The bull was glazed with the main colour being […]
Collecting Pinky and Perky
Pinky and Perky were two adorable puppet characters that first appeared on the BBC in 1957. The two puppets starred in their own show which at its peak had a television audience of 15 million. In this Collecting Pinky and Perky feature, we take a brief look at how the […]
A short history of Belleek Pottery
Belleek Pottery was founded in 1857 by John Caldwell Bloomfield. The company is located in Belleek, County Fermanagh, Ireland. Belleek Pottery’s porcelain is characterized by its thinness, delicate features, and a translucent quality that resembles ivory. The pottery has become one of the most popular potteries in the world, and […]
The World War II Posters of Abram Games
Most people know about World War II because of the movies. They’ve seen the footage of planes flying and bombs being dropped, and they know that it was a devastating time for many people. But what about the artists who created the propaganda posters? Their work is often overshadowed by […]
A brief history of The Festival of Britain and Memorabilia created for the Festival
The Festival of Britain was a national event that took place in 1951. This event was meant to celebrate the end of World War II and commemorate the reconstruction of Britain. The festival was designed by architect Hugh Casson and artist Herbert Read, and it included exhibits, performances, and food […]
19th Century Political Stoneware Flasks
English 19th century political stoneware flasks are among some of the most interesting and collectible of all English ceramics. Many flasks were made to commemorate specific events or to support particular politicians, and as a result, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the political culture of the period. They were […]
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Movie Quad Posters From the 1960s
In the 1960s, movie posters were an art form. Studios would commission artists to create beautiful quad posters that would entice audiences into cinemas. While The Man from U.N.C.L.E. movies were not as successful as the television series, they did produce some amazing quad posters. These posters are a beautiful […]
A look at the Oriente range of Murano Glass
The Oriente range of Murano glass is one of the most recognisable with its vibrant display of colours of free–formed patches of green, yellow, blue, purple, black, and white stars, avventurina glass, and pieces of zanfirico canes fused to make brilliantly coloured vases and bowls. The pattern on every piece […]
The Saturday Evening Girls Club and The Paul Revere Pottery
In the late 19th Century, a group of women in Boston came together to form what was to become the Saturday Evening Girls Club (S.E.G.). It would run as a group until 1969 and started as reading group for young immigrant women in Boston’s North End. The group met at […]