I used to tell people that I didn't collect anything, but instead I accumulated stuff. Today its the other way around - I collect certain things and accumulate little. I was not conscious of changing how I collected my stuff and only by looking back did I realize that it had changed. As it turns out, I was always collecting things, such as Mickey Mouse and beer steins, but my collections evolved from quantity (what I used to call accumulations) to quality.
For example, lets look at my Mickey Mouse accumulation. It was probably around 20 years ago that I started to pick up the occasional Mickey item at garage sales and thrift stores. Needless to say, you can find lots of Disney items at these places and pretty soon the shelf I was using to hold them was full to overflowing. And what didn't fit on the shelf was packed away in boxes. This should have raised a warning flag that the accumulation was getting a little out of control ... but it didn't.
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| A small part of my Mickey Mouse accumulation. |
The turning point might have been when I bought a 1930s Mickey Mouse lusterware tea set in its original box, or it might have been when I got a 1940s Donald Duck lamp with the original shade. But in the end, I realized that there was more enjoyment in having a few good items than there was in having hundreds of inexpensive ones. And the "good" items don't have to be expensive. Now I try to be more selective and buy only the earlier Disney pieces in good condition - and, of course, only if the price is right.
So now I have a few "good" items in my display cabinet (more than a couple of these bought at Antiques on Main) and almost all of the original accumulation is packed away in boxes in my basement until can decide what to do with it. But I had lots of fun accumulating everything and would probably do it again, so I don't criticize anyone who is in that stage of collecting.
At Antiques on Main, we have have things for collections whatever stage they are in.
