All Your Crystal

Every year for my grandmother’s birthday, I try to incorporate her interests into my choice of gift. She’s an avid bird-watcher and a card-carrying member of the Audubon Society. It’s amazing that at her age she still manages to make every meeting - even giving presentations from time to time. Anyway, she especially enjoys watching hummingbirds. Last year I bought her a new hummingbird feeder, and the gift was a huge hit.

For this year’s birthday, I wanted to find something that my grandmother could treasure during the winter months, when many birds fly south for the winter. I stumbled on a series of Swarovski crystal figurine models and immediately began refining the search further. Before long, I located a small hummingbird knick-knack with colorful flower accents. It more than does the trick until spring arrives.

If you consider your collection of figurines being of great value, you should consider passing it on to your future generation, as any collectible figurine increases in values over time. You will be amazed to know that there is actually a science in collecting figurines and the more you become involved and knowledgeable in the hobby of collecting, the more you will want to learn about it.

Before starting your collection, visit specialty shops like wholesale figurine shops or online stores for easy price comparison. You can even try asking a few friends or relatives who are experienced enough in collecting such adorable figurines. They will surely give you helpful tips and suggestions on how to get started and also on how to successfully negotiate with sellers.

This guide will assist you in keeping your crystal collection beautiful and almost dust free as they are oftentimes the cornerstone of home decor. To help prevent dust from entering your cabinets and curios, apply weather stripping to the edges of the doors. When displaying your pieces, keep them back from the edges to prevent them from falling.

To clean Swarovski crystal figurines, wipe them with newspaper dipped in a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water. Remove dirt from fine crevices using an inexpensive auto detail brush or soft toothbrush. The bristles are stiff enough to get into tight spaces, but soft enough not to damage surface.

The popularity of pet ownership in the United States and the widespread awareness of all the animal world has to offer us have resulted in the production of a huge variety of animal species available in figurine form.  There are likely animal figurines to represent any favorite animal you love, whether domestic or wild.

These depictions of the animal kingdom are often painstakingly detailed with hand carving, hand painting, and other characteristics of quality craftsmanship. Animal figurines are a lasting tribute to the creatures they portray, honoring the beauty and power of nature at its best.

Buying the perfect gift can be a challenging assignment, particularly for finicky people. Nothing is worse than seeing a disappointed face when someone opens their present. There are some staples, however, that are sure to please any gift receiver. For women, a crystal gift is virtually always a winner.

Regardless of what the actual gift is, the vast majority of women will love crystal. It is easy to display, adding class and elegance to any room. Crystal is also appropriate for a variety of occasions, from holidays to weddings and birthdays.

About a year ago, my grandson was over at my house helping me move some furniture. He took one look at the shelf in my entryway and couldn’t believe the number of crystal figurines I had collected over the years. He noticed that most of the pieces were in the shape of animals and remarked that I had enough to fill a figurine zoo. Whether he knew it or not at the time, my grandson’s comment got me to thinking about the potential of my collection.

Just as a biologist longs to collect and classify different species of mammal, reptile, bird and amphibian, I seek out their crystal counterparts. My bird figurine collection alone is incredibly extensive, complete with storks, herons, flamingos, cockatoos and a bevy of others. I’ve begun displaying the collection in a logical order according to genus, species and phylum. Some would call this an obsession, but I just consider it a passionate hobby.

People manage to find hope and inspiration in even the darkest of times. No matter what personal or national tragedy besets us, there’s always a silver lining to be found. Some turn to the comforting passages of their preferred religious text, and others seek solace in everyday objects. Angel figurines can be enjoyed from a religious standpoint as well as for their stunning aesthetic value.

For Christians, angel-themed decorations act as a constant reminder that someone is watching over every single one of us. The concept of guardian angels is almost as old as the Bible itself, but its upbeat sentiment remains just as potent today. An angel figurine makes a great gift for believers as it sends an overwhelmingly positive message to whomever is lucky enough to receive it.

For more than a century, Swarovski crystals have been the standard by which other similar precious items are measured. The company’s founder was actually a German by birth, but he was understandably concerned about other crystal manufacturers discovering his trade secrets. This paranoia sparked a move to Wattens, Austria, where Swarovski crystal is still produced to this day.

Austrian crystal is unique for many reasons, including the way it’s crafted. Workers use their ingenuity and creativity to cut hand-blown glass. This means that Swarovski crystals attain a level of sophistication and craftsmanship that in unparalleled in the rest of the Western world. The company’s factory and “Crystal World” have drawn increased foreign attention to Austria, where Wattens has blossomed into a tourist destination.

About a year ago, my elderly mother moved in with my husband and me. The kids had all gone off to college, and we didn’t mind accommodating mom in her advanced years. From the moment she arrived, mom developed a fascination with the birds that would feed at our backyard pond. She grew attached to a pair of mallard ducks, and once in a while she even spotted a wood duck. But by far her favorite bird was the heron, which had a habit of flying in to pick off a few rainbow trout.

For mom’s 85th birthday, I put a little extra thought into a gift. Knowing how much she loved watching the heron swoop in from above and wade delicately through the water, a heron-related present seemed fitting. After a short online search, I discovered a decorative bird figurine with an incredibly lifelike shape. Her eyes lit up upon receiving this gift, and I felt a tremendous sense of satisfaction as well.

For anyone who’s ever been interested in crystal lead figurines, it’s very likely that they’ve come across a company called Preciosa based out of the Czech Republic. The name brand itself derives from the Latin word for precious, rare, or noble. Dealing in crystal figurines and other lead crystal products, they are noted for using 30 percent lead in their products. This creates the maximum amount of refraction, which is desirable in their jewelry items, chandeliers, and miniature sculptures.

Outside of the lead figurine industry, the company of Preciosa is also noted for sponsoring the Czech football team known as the FC Slovan Liberec. In other sports news, Preciosa crystal was also an official partner of 2009’s Nordic World Ski Championships. They were even responsible for designing and manufacturing crystal trophies that were awarded to the winners along with the standard medals.