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WHAT IS A COLLECTOR?
What drives people to collect anything from porcelain pigs to old tennis balls? Everyone, it seems, is a collector of one form or another. Whether they have a traditional accumulation of items such as stamps or a collection of Department 56 villages, collecting comes naturally to most of us. Collecting not only fulfills a human instinct to make sense of the world that we live in, but it is also one of the ways in which adults play, writes Chrissie Kravehenko in her book, Collector's Lot.
Many women tend to be connoisseurs, driven by aesthetics, so they might collect art or jewelry. Meanwhile, men need completeness - the thrill of chasing that elusive Beatles album or that final Original Snow Village piece. In many cases, collecting offers a sense of social acceptance. Collectors often enjoy attending conventions, being with like-minded types and comparing stories and collections, while for others profit can be a motivating factor. Collecting is mostly about simple enjoyment of people from all walks of life who collect many different things. Listed below are collections of some well-known personalities.
Karl Lagerfeld, the German fashion designer, fell in love with a portrait of Frederick II of Prussia when he was 4, and he sulked until his parents bought it for him. Today, he collects everything from books to shoes.
Prime Minister, Tony Blair, likes to browse around craft shows looking for hand made pottery. He feels pottery is relatively cheap to collect and can be used in the home.
Singer, Whitney Houston, loves old stained glass like from churches or doors and windows from home in the Thirties. She can often be seen buying pieces for her home.
Former Dallas star, Morgan Brittany, has been collecting Gone With The Wind memorabilia and dolls for over 25 years. The movie was the first film she ever saw as a child and people kept telling her she looked like Vivien Leigh. Years later she went to the MGM studios auction and bought all the still photos and a couple of props from the movie, which started her off on collecting memorabilia from the movie.
Singer, Cliff Richard, likes anything to do with tennis and has a collection of old tennis balls.
Singer, Janet Jackson, loves porcelain pigs, and tenor, Jose Carreras, has an exhaustive collection of thimbles. Former British Prime Minister, John Major, displays an impressive array of commemorative plates on the walls of his home. U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, actor, Kirk Douglas, and singer, Phil Collins, all collect model trains. Actor, Clint Eastwood, loves jazz records, and tennis ace, Andre Agassi, has a collection of records by Barry Manilow.
So, don't feel that you are different because you have a passion for Department 56 Villages. It's just human nature, so keep collecting. Enjoy!
By Genevieve Alt
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