The Joy of Collecting III (Part One)

Another year, another Christmas...and this year, we conclude the Joy of Collecting article.

1. Our first exhibit is this handsome Santa Claus figurine from Possible Dreams. Possible Dreams appears to be the "Santa" imprint of a company called Department 56 Corner, which specializes in Christmas- and other holiday-themed model displays. The company also releases Jim Shore sculptures and ornaments, which have been seen in catalogs such as "Betty's Attic."

He's made of a hard, molded cloth, branded "Clothtique," and, as the description notes, he's "filled with optimism for the New Year."

2. "Girl with Rose" was sculpted by Kim Anderson and released as part of Enesco's Pretty as a Picture line of collectibles. Her webpage has a link to her Ebay store, where one can find most of her figurines and other pieces. Frankly, I'm puzzled about this piece's inclusion in the article: There doesn't seem to be anything "millennium" about it.

3. Muffy Vanderbear was created by Barbara Isenberg in 1984, and the bears were distributed by the North American Bear Company since then. This entry, "From Dusk to Dawn," pairs her with a rabbit named Hoppy Vanderhare; the two represent the closing of the old era and the beginning of the new era.

4. Fenton Art Glass began selling fine glass art in 1905. Since then, many people have collected Fenton's pieces, and North America boasts three organizations for Fenton collectors: Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America; the National Fenton Glass Society; and the Pacific Northwest Fenton Association.

These three pieces--a vase, a bowl, and a Happiness Bird--represent a small part of Fenton's Millennium Collection. They're made of "Golden Glow" glass, which I assume means that golden flakes are rolled into the translucent liquid glass before the articles are shaped. Also, and this is perhaps most interesting, they bear a "butterfly" motif.

The butterfly can represent, among other things, changes and new beginnings--the caterpillar spins a cocoon, waits through fall and winter, and emerges in the spring as a beautiful butterfly.