Collectors, Questers, Seekers of Joy
No one knows the thrill of the hunt, the joy of victory and the fun of bragging rights better than collectors.
Got a collector on your holiday list? You may be tempted to add to the collection with a gift. But is that really the best idea? Karen Jessee
T
he word “collections” can conjure up images from a kid with his bundle of baseball cards to the back room of a museum stacked with archival boxes and everything in between. Ranging from the small, silly and simple, to the hefty, unique and rare, collectibles always say something about the collectors themselves. And there’s no shortage of ephemera—if it was created, it can be collected and antique shops, auction houses, estate sales, on-line sales, thrift stores and flea markets are only too happy to help those treasure hunters fulfill their undying passion for just one more. Many collections bespeak the past laced with nostalgia, reminding us of how we once lived, worked, dressed and even how we played. Take for example New York’s Mike McKenna, who works in costuming at the Metropolitan Opera. He has a personal collection of over 300 fedoras, 75 men’s straw hats, 40 bowlers, 40 top hats and 75 women’s hats, a collection running from the years 1880 to 1950. 56
County Lines | December 2020 | CountyLinesMagazine.com
Mike says, “These beauties have been rented out for stage and screen, and I have delighted in seeing pieces on some prominent actors.” Then there’s Sandy of Wilmington who has beautifully encased and displayed her vast collection of vintage Barbies (she got her first Barbie in 1960) along with their fashions. Sandy says, “I was drawn to the original ones, which were haute couture, meaning their fashions were designed by a ‘name’ designer and hand sewn by Japanese housewives. My 1966 Barbie is signed by her creator, Ruth Handler. I have around 150 Barbies, of which about 30 to 40 are true vintage. ” Michael Messitt from Lewes, Delaware has a sizeable collection of cuff links, some with matching tie tacks, accessories that were once part of a gentleman’s attire for special occasions and even work— long before casual Fridays and working from home with no pants were options.
