Before beginning, let’s talk about the concept of “collecting.”
The term “collectible” is easily used in many types of non-essential purchases, with decorative items and toys being the most common to receive the moniker. You could take two autumn leaves home, press them into a book and call them a collection. The term “collectible” on a product means you can buy one or more than one, and the value is left to chance either way. Our older generations found fun in collecting plates, or if they traveled they might stop at the gift shop and buy a thimble or a set of salt and pepper shakers with the name of the tourist attraction printed on them.
Many people indulge in collections for the fun of having interesting visual displays. These collections can range from rocks and minerals (or leaves in autumn) to expensive purses or a closet filled with shoes. Figurines are also among the most well-known indulgences.
In the past, a common collectible was Precious Moments(R), which today can cost upward of $40. The production numbers and interest may have diminished slightly over the years. Today the toy collectible many have heard about is Labubu, which is a plush monster that overtook stores and children’s demands, and is still a popular item.
I have come to enjoy the challenge of what is called blind box collecting. If you ever bought bubblegum cards and sifted through countless doubles to find those few numbers lacking in your stack, you know how this concept operates. There is no guarantee you will obtain a complete set unless you buy a guaranteed curated collection at one time. People will shake and attempt to judge the weight of blind boxes to determine the figure inside. It isn’t an exact science. The thrill is of getting one of each–finally–and possibly obtaining a rare mystery or “chaser” item.
My concentration has been on Chinese collectible series from Pop Mart. These are priced in the $20 range, which is much more wallet-friendly than those $40 and up porcelain versions (and less likely to break). The figurines are beautifully crafted, with quality detailing, and more multi-dimensional or gravity-defying than figures of old, which were usually relegated to people depicted sitting or standing on a base of natural spaces such as a lawn or beach. The colors are vivid, and the themes are intriguing. One set features a flower theme based on Shakespeare, and the figures are posed with vivid red flocked rose outfits or reclining among broad petals. I have not yet bought a full boxed set, but that is my next goal, to ensure I get one dozen separate figures (and possibly a mystery 1:144 find). The odds of not getting two of one type are not always in my favor, but neither is finding just one four-leaf clover.
Also, a small collectible is easier to display or store, and you don’t need to put shelves in your closet for them. Naturally the figures are not the same as a designer handbag, but you would use neither of them. The purse must remain in pristine condition, after all. You can take a figurine out and admire it, but hands off the Prada bag at $6700 (yes, there is one: I looked it up).
The figures were designed by an artist wishing to create an atmosphere of wonder, joy, and relaxation. These seem to fill that expectation. They provide a pleasant distraction on display, and a fun experience finding the full set.
So this is what I’ve been doing with my spare change when I visit the coin counter. It isn’t expensive or fattening, and that makes it harmless fun. How many things can you say that about these days?
Few that I can recollect.
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