- A train collection (by far the most extensive collection), featuring: books, mementos from trains ridden, Hallmark ornaments (at least 25), model trains, multiple railroad ties (now that is a heavy box!), toy trains, and so on. [Total: 6 boxes]
- A collection of maybe 50 Hot Wheels, still in their original packaging (more valuable, of course). I combined other assorted non-Hot Wheel/non-train toy vehicles (such as trucks, airplanes, and cars) in with the Hot Wheels, because it's a logical grouping, under the umbrella category of transportation. [Total: 1 box]
- 7 G.I. Joe's, also in their original boxes. This was the easiest to pack. [Total: 1 box]
It really was a daunting task, largely because the various collections were mostly unorganized requiring me to sort, order, and pack at the same time. It feels like a real accomplishment, having knocked it out in one day, and having transformed a rather chaotic group of objects into 8 carefully packed and neatly stacked boxes. I think Alex is appreciative, too. [Next mission: robots, rocks, and electronics.]
Engaging closely with these collections, as was the case with my penguins recently, reminds me of the scholarly work I did in graduate school at UCSB a few years back. I studied American art, in general, but my area of specialization was collection studies, a relatively new field in academia. Essentially, I explored a number of questions relating to collecting activities. Some of the questions that I focused on my subjects were:
- What defines a collection?
- What are the differences between public collections versus private collections?
- What differentiates "high" collecting (such as fine art) from "popular" collecting (such as Pez dispensers)?
- How does collecting relate to identity production, privately and/or publicly? In other words, what does your collection say about who you are?
I sometimes wonder, given the means and space, what other collecting I would wish to do. Actually, I've already begun a collection of original art, particularly work by living artists whom I've met or befriended. Granted, there are only 5 pieces in my art collection (4 paintings and 1 collage), but it's a start.
I'd love to know what you collect, currently, and what you'd like to collect in the future.
1 comment:
I suppose "high" collecting is of old, unique & expensive things, and "popular" collecting is of new, ubiquitous & inexpensive things. Given enough time, the Pez dispensers & lunch boxes go into antique shows. Given several centuries, they'd qualify for the most exclusive of museums, I predict.
Although Alex's heart would temporarily stop beating to think of it (and thus you shouldn't be the one to suggest it), but if he ever comes upon hard times I suppose those matchbox cars might have some potential resale value.
I was thinking about that lately. If Joel Harris (the guy who painted my 2 recent art purchases) died and his art suddenly became exponentially more valuable, just how high would the value have to go for me to say "I'll take the money?" I'm thinking probably tens of thousands, unless hard times hit, in which case probably anything over $1,000.
That reminds me of how unfair it is that artists usually see so little of the high resale value of their art. And that reminds me of a quote from Degas, remarking upon the high priced sale of his 2 ballerinas + watering can: "Now I know what the horse who wins the championship feels like who gets nothing for his troubles but a bag of oats."
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