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Crystal is glass that has lead oxide in it. The reason for adding the lead oxide is to increase the density of the glass which in turn will make the glass more reflective and add brilliance. The more lead in the glass, the more colors that are reflected. You may also notice that some crystal is heavier than others. This is because the more lead, the heavier the piece.

Hand made crystal glass will usually always have a few small “seed bubbles”. This happens when rising air gets trapped when the crystal is being made. These air bubbles can only be seen when a piece of crystal is held up to a strong light. This is a good sign that your piece was more than likely hand crafted.

Other signs of handcrafted crystal are chill marks (indentations on the surface of the glass) and flow lines. None of these constitute a flaw in the piece, but rather a sign of hand crafting.

Even the finest crystal will have minor variations in clarity, occasional bubbles, chill marks and flow lines. These are inevitables in hand blown and molded crystal.

Crystal is also “soft” because of the lead content. It will be important for you to know how to care for your crystal as even dust can act as an abrasive and cause scratches.

General Crystal Care Tips:

- Store your crystal where it won’t touch other items.

- Do not store crystal glasses upside down as it can put stress to the rim, which is very delicate.

- Carry your pieces one at a time rather than carrying as a bunch by the stems.

- If your crystal breaks and you can save it, use a clear-drying epoxy that was made just for glass and glue it back together. Then set in the sun for a bit to help the bonding process.

Crystal Cleaning Tips:

- Dust can act as an abrasive and can “scratch” the surface. Make sure you only clean with a mild detergent and use a lint free cloth for drying.

- For glasses with gold rims or an edge design, never soak in solutions containing ammonia. Stick to using a mild detergent only.

- Always hand wash when possible or if you are brave enough to put your crystal in the dishwasher (not recommended), make sure you use a very gentle cycle and mild detergent. When washing by hand and after rinsing, fill the bowls or flutes with clean hot water and leave them sit until you are ready to dry them. Using a clean cotton dish towel will polish and clean a warm wet glass very quickly. If you let the glasses air dry and then try to dry them you can wind up with smears and streaks on the glass.

- When washing, use only warm water AND rinse with warm water. Quick changes in temperature can cause cracking or clouding.

- If you notice that your crystal has a haze or clouding look to it and are having trouble removing it, you need to move to the next level and try cleaning with a hard water stain remover such as CLR or Lime Away. Some people have even used #000 very fine steel wool with a mild dish detergent to remove stubborn haze. But I wouldn’t resort to the steel wool unless none of the other solutions worked.

- When washing, make sure you have a rubber matt in the sink bottom, or a towel just incase your hands are slippery and the glass drops.

- Wash your crystal before food can harden. This will make it much easier to clean without having to put hard pressure on the item or scrap it causing scratches.

- Add a little vinegar to the dish water to keep hard water spots from appearing.

Crystal is a beautiful keepsake that can be handed down from generation to generation. Taking these extra steps will preserve your crystal for years to come!

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.

If you are deciding to become an antique dealer keep in mind that you will be meeting many different type of people, each of these people you meet have a different role in antique dealings. Many people are now finding antiques as a great way of making their rooms look that little bit more special. When it comes to antiques many people have their own agenda, many people prefer clocks, porcelain, furniture or jewelry.

Next look to make sure that you can afford to purchase items in your chosen item, you may be fascinated say by rare art, but unfortunately it may be unaffordable. Purchasing antiques usually involves money; lots of money, gathering the proper information can help with the purchase process and avoid being fooled or making mistakes. Knowing the how to speak “antique” or knowing the proper terminology and doing the proper research will help in determining what to look for and what to buy, it will also help in knowing how much the items are worth so you don’t overpay for the item.

In today’s world antiques have become big business for many people, finding that piece that was created many years ago and selling it for 3 to 4 times its value is a great way to make money. If you compare the same items today with those that were created years ago it is amazing how the older items are made incredibly well plus they fetch more money on the market.

To find old pieces of furniture you need to look in the following places, outhouses, attics or cellars, many people stored their valuable items in these places. Furniture began to bear designs such as pagodas and birds, originally only seen on items of porcelain. Antique furniture that has been covered with a finish that is long lasting will look better plus fetch a higher price. But, over time and with polishing, oak darkens into a rich brown color. Until the middle of the 17th Century, furniture was fairly simple, made of oak with peg joints.

Place your collection on display or will then be kept in a safe place. For some who have inherited a lovely collection of heirlooms, yet do not have any idea of how to look after them or even keeping up with the collection they already have as well as they should.

It’s the fluctuations in relative humidity caused by central heating that results in real damage. Consider installing a humidifier on your furnace to raise the humidity levels in winter and run a dehumidifier during the summer months. With wood antiques, you want the humidity to be as stable as possible. To take care of the antique furniture you will need to wax the pieces with bees wax, do not store the furniture in damp, bright rooms, and make sure the furniture is not in a place that the temperatures fluctuate because this may damage the wood.

There are many benefits when selling on an online Antique mall. You want to sell your antiques or collectibles online be careful and research the proper way to do this. One of the most popular places where people from all over the country display and have their antiques appraised is at the Antiques Roadshow.

David Marc Fishman helps people with how to videos. Ask an expert to learn how they do it at http://www.tipsquad.com using instructional videos.

I will start right off by telling you that the most important factor in valuing your collectible is the condition of the item.

Items that are in mint or near mint condition will always yield a much higher profit. Chips, cracks and crazing, etc., will always bring down the value of the item and are worth just a fraction of what an item in mint condition would be.

If you are looking for collectibles, here are a few pointers to watch for:

On items such as glassware, porcelain and pottery a good way to detect for chips is to run a finger around the rim and handle areas.

For glass items, hold it up to the light to look for hairline cracks. If the item is glass or has a handle make especially sure to check the base as these types of items are more prone to crack at the base.

Look at the surface for scratches or films that can be caused from harsh dish detergents. If you see a film, test it by getting it wet. If the film comes back after being dried then it’s permanent.

If you are interested in selling a collectible piece, it is always best to keep the box. Believe it or not, having the original box the item came in can sometimes increase the value. Why? We really don’t know why.

Keeping the boxes started back in the 1970’s. It was an advertising method where people would advertise “Mint in Box” (MIB) or “New in Box” (NIB). The intention was to convey the idea that the item has been unused and is still in the original factory condition regardless of age.

In my opinion, it really doesn’t make a difference whether you have the box or not. After all, what’s to keep a person from displaying the item for years and then when it’s time to sell, just put it back in the original box? Never the less, it’s a good idea to keep the boxes with your items.

People have been stuck on the theory that having the original box will bring more value and in reality, it does. But by all means, I would never turn down a good deal on a valuable collectible just because it didn’t have the box.

Just to clarify, there is nothing wrong with purchasing an item that may have a small crack or a few scratches. Just don’t pay a high price for something that is not in good condition.

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.

Did you know that doll collecting is rated as the second biggest collectible hobby in the United States?

With all the different doll manufacturers there are today, it can sometimes get confusing on what kind of doll is best to buy. Besides having to determine which manufacturer is the best one to go with, you then need to figure out which kind of doll is suited best for the purpose. Do you want a hand crafted doll, Artist doll, play doll, designer doll, licensed doll? It can get confusing.

Which manufacturer you go with is a matter of personal taste. Germany although, is known throughout the world for their quality made dolls. There have been many countries that have tried to follow but have never been able to match. To this day, Germany is still the leader in quality doll production.

No matter which manufacturer you decide to go with, there are still other considerations. The following is a list of the different types of dolls most manufacturers produce today.

Artist Dolls:
These dolls are specialty dolls often designed to look very much like a real child or person and are among the most expensive. Most often, they are produced in limited editions making it more affordable for the merchants and customers to buy. Newly made original Artist dolls can cost up to and over $5,000. That’s a hefty price to pay for most doll collectors. Once the dolls are sold out, the mold is broken and the dolls are not made again. This is another reason for the high price tag.

The artists that make these dolls usually have contracts with specific manufacturers. For example, Hildegard Guenzel is a well known artist that produces dolls for Goetz.

Artist dolls are not the type of doll you would want to buy for child’s play. These sorts of dolls are bought mostly by doll collectors between the ages of 30 – 45 and average in price of around $600 give or take a few hundred.

Variation Dolls:
These dolls can also be made by artists as well as the companies that manufacturer them. A variation doll is a doll that stays in production usually for a few years or longer. From year to year certain features of the doll may change. It may be something as simple as a different outfit, or the hair style or face shape may change a bit in the following year. Schildkroet is a good example of this. They carry a classic collection line of dolls which pretty much stays the same year after year. Each year you may see slight variations in the same dolls.

Variation dolls are not as expensive as Artist dolls. They can start as low as $40 on up to $500 or more.

Classic Collection Dolls:
Classic dolls are usually replicas of older dolls dating back to the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. I have even seen some replicas from earlier dates. They usually come in limited editions and average in prices from $100 – $500 depending on the manufacturer. These types of dolls are usually bought by people that remember having a doll of this sort as a child. These dolls should sit on a shelf for display only.

Hand Crafted Dolls:
These dolls can be manufactured by the companies themselves or sometimes you will even find these dolls designed by artists. Some can come with certificates and others wont. It can vary. These dolls can be played with and are usually a higher quality than the simple “play doll” varieties. Facial features may be more realistic and the materials are designed with play in mind, meaning you will find many of the soft bodied and bath babies in this category. These dolls are mostly bought for older children. Hand Crafted dolls are also sought after by collectors..

Licensed Dolls:
These dolls are dolls that the manufacturer has licensing rights to sell or produce. For example, Goetz manufacturers a “Harry Potter” doll under a special licensing agreement. Engel-Puppen has a special licensing agreement with Goebel to produce the Hummel dolls. These dolls can vary from expensive limited editions to play dolls.

Play Dolls:
Play dolls are made especially for children. They are designed to be dragged around by an arm, left lying on the floor for you to trip over, squeezed to death, spanked and thrown in a toy box.

There are hundreds of variations of play dolls. Some designed for a little less play in mind to the ones that couldn’t break if a bulldozer ran over it. Manufacturers of play dolls are always careful to make sure the dolls are made of non-toxic materials and flame retardant clothing. Most of these dolls are made especially soft for children’s play and includes the bath babies as well. Many of them are very easy to clean just by putting them in a tied pillow case and into the washing machine.

In closing, the doll you decide to purchase most likely will be one that just strikes you, no matter who made the doll. Most often, this is how dolls are purchased. You see a doll in the window that either reminds you of your childhood, or one that has a striking resemblance to a loved one. Many times, this is all it takes, and before you know it, you have the doll in your hands.

Evelyn Becker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.

In California you can find a shop called Goebel Miniatures where they produce miniature renditions of the M.I. Hummel figurines. These miniatures are about the size of a dime. This shop is the only shop and the sole producer of these little miniatures.

A few years before this shop came about, an artist by the name of Robert Olszewski made several miniature replicas of Hummel figurines in gold. He was not aware that he needed to get permission from Goebel in order to do this. Before Goebel found out about Robert’s work and stopped him, he had made the following five miniatures:

Barnyard Hero
Stormy Weather
Kiss Me
Ring Around the Rosie
Ride into Christmas

Robert had also made a few solid gold bracelets with each one of the above named miniatures attached. These bracelets and the unauthorized miniatures have since become highly sought after and are worth alot of money.

Goebel recognized Robert’s talent and realized there was a market for the miniatures. The interesting result was the birth of the Goebel Miniatures Shop where Robert was hired under contract with Goebel. As of 1994, Robert no longer works for Goebel.

When the very first Hummel miniatures were released in 1988, they all got a circular backstamp trademark which carried the mold number, the year and the name Olszewski along with Goebel’s name. These are also highly sought after.

People are sometimes surprised at the cost of these little miniatures. What most people don’t realize though what is all involved in creating these little treasures. First of all, they are not made of earthenware, but of bronze instead. It also takes the artist about 200 hours or more to carve the new creation in wax. The wax sculpture is then converted into a sterling silver master mold. From this silver mold the plaster molds are made and the moulten bronze is poured into these. The final steps is the painting and packaging.

Goebel Miniatures has made many other types of miniatures besides just the M.I. Hummels. Of the M.I. Hummels there was a series that they call “Kinder Way” It was a set of six little Bavarian buildings and settings that were all connected by little bridges and are named as follows:

Market Square
Flower Stand
Countryside School
Wayside Shrine
Bavarian Cottage
Bavarian Village

In early 1992 Goebel announced that the Kinder Way Bavarian Village settings would be permanently retired. They also announced that the production of the M.I. Hummel figurines miniatures would also be suspended indefinitely. To this day, Goebel has no plans to resume production of these cute little miniatures, although there have been at least three produced since 1992 as special editions only. They are:

Ring Around the Rosie
The Mail is Here
Honey Lover

M.I. Hummel miniatures are cute and different and add extensively to any Hummel collection. Robert Olszewski’s work is also highly sought after, so if you have any miniatures by him, you may want to consider hanging onto them!

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.