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Do you have a favorite Valentine decoration or trinket that you display each year? Of course, I do -- actually I have several.
One is a heart shaped glass candy dish made by LE Smith Co., one of the last molded glass companies in the country founded in nearby Jeannette, Pa. This lovely candy dish is a delight to bring out and fill with chocolates each February.
The ruby glass makes for a dramatic statement and of course, ruby glass has long been collected by fans of Victorian and art glass. This dish is classified as a nappy in antique glassware terminology, which means that it's a shallow open dish with no handles and a flat bottom.
Often nappies were used to serve nuts, candy or other small treats. There are so many examples of nappies in the antique world that collectors can and do create an entire collection simply of these glass serving dishes.
Ruby glass is perfect for Valentine's Day, I think, and there are many examples from goblets, ashtrays, candlesticks, fruit bowls, serving dishes and more. It's a perfect gift too!
Another little treasure that I enjoy are antique Valentines.
I have a few vintage examples of my own that I bring out each year and display on the mantels to create a sentimental look. I think they are just the right touch for February decorating.
Valentines belong to a category of antiques known as ephemera. Paper collectibles like valentines carry with them clues to our social past and that is one of the things I like best about them.
Handwriting skills, language changes and selection of images tell so much about people and a culture.
Printed valentines became popular during the 1800s. It was a time when people were discouraged from expressing their emotions and when printed cards were a real social need.
The most important qualities for placing a value on collectible valentines are the age, category, size, manufacturer, artist, signature, condition and location.
Saving them properly is tough, since you have to keep them dry, cool and free of bugs and dust.
Valentines can be classified as mechanical, honeycomb paper puff, dimensional and flat cards. Many are too beautiful to be thrown away, thus we have the examples with us to enjoy today.
Another Valentine collectible that I enjoy is my little Annalee cupid doll that I place on my kitchen table each year.
This little treasure isn't old, just collectible. In fact, I bought it at Boscov's not long ago. Annaleeis the New Hampshire doll company that has charmed collectors since 1934.
The impish cupid is attractive to all ages and creates a whimsical reminder of Valentine's Day.
My Madame Alexander Valentine doll is another example of a treasure that I came across over the years and purchased locally at Mom and Dad's gift shop in Warwood 2007. She's a beautiful example of well-made dolls that were and are highly collectible from a classic company founded in 1923.
Any toy or doll collector knows this company which has turned out countless examples of treasured dolls for nearly a century. I just visited the website madamalexander.com and found it very informative and fun, so take a look.
As you can see, Valentine collectibles are plentiful and bring a bit of joy to the cold winter months, so find yourself a vintage Valentine or two and share the love.