F2

Riel Nason

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Often the items people choose to collect reflect another aspect of their lives. I have met a teacher who collects old school books and an optometrist who seeks vintage eyeglass holders. I know of several collectors of old kitchenware who are motivated by a joy of cooking. I often sell vintage rhinestone brooches to those who have a flair for fashion.

1 of 2

So perhaps it makes perfect sense that of the many dog and cat lovers out there, some end up collecting vintage dog and cat items. A passion for a pet may extend to wanting to represent a small part of that affection in the home. A cat lover with a china cabinet full of cat cookie jars seems a logical match. The owner of a poodle with a collection of whimsical 1950s pink poodle figurines shouldn't surprise anyone.

But as with all collectibles, a huge selection of pieces means there are varied approaches to deciding what to seek. Here are some examples.

By Breed or Type

Collies or German Shepherds? Black cats, tabby cats or Siamese cats? Picking a specific breed certainly narrows the search and makes things easier from the perspective of what does and doesn't fit, but not all breeds and types can be collected with equal ease. Collectors soon learn that some dogs and cats have been better represented than others over the decades. Scottie dogs were a popular decorating motif in the 1930s and 1940s and poodles were big in the 1950s. Black cats have made numerous appearances over the years in both advertising and Halloween items. Dachshunds sometimes appear in humorous vintage kitchen and bar items such as long serving dishes. Siamese cat figurines seem to turn up more than other lesser-known breeds.

By Item or Manufacturer

Figurines or string holders or prints? Beswick or Shafford? A collector seeking only cat-shaped salt and pepper shakers could keep searching for years. Someone wanting dog doorstops would likely look hard, but eventually come up with a nice collection. Collectors who only want a certain manufacturer's items, for example Shafford or Holt Howard, who each made a whole line of cat kitchenware items, can easily focus their collection. Some collectors go even further by combining both a specific item with a specific breed, for example only Scottie dog glass tumblers.

By Character

Garfield or Odie? Felix the cat? Lassie? Pluto? Snoopy? Some collectors fall in love with an amusing or well-loved cat or dog character from the past. Cats and dogs from books, TV, cartoons and movies are well represented in the collectible world. Fans of character dogs and cats usually end up with a variety of items, from promotional and advertising pieces to toys or children's items. They also can often collect objects from a range of time periods as some characters maintained popularity for decades.

But regardless of the way collectors organize their pieces, hopefully their dog and cat collections enhance the joy they get from having a special pet, and allow them to show it off a little.

Riel Nason catontheporch@yahoo.ca is a columnist, collector and antique dealer living in Quispamsis. Her column appears the last Saturday of every month.