What makes dog figurines one of the most popular collectibles in the world? Well it's not that difficult to figure out. Dogs have always been known as man's best friend. They are enjoyed and appreciated by all who are able to keep them as pets, and use them as help. Children especially love dogs, and when they are given a fluffy Golden Retriever or plastic dog character to play with, they are kept happy and content for hours. There are such a large variety of dog breeds to choose from. The figurine world has captured them all in their various types, sizes, colors and natures.
Dog figurines are the perfect gift for the dog lover, and are great for any occasion. I am certain you won't have a problem finding the dog that goes with the receiver, for example a Golden Retriever figurine. Some artists enjoy making amusing ceramic dog figurines that capture human characteristics and portray them in their dogs. Other artists who make detailed crystal or pewter figurines, like to capture the characters of that particular dog breed, such as the Golden Retriever or the Schnauzer, or even the Border Collie. One of my favorites is the English sheep dog figurine with its long shaggy coat, and my German shepherd dog - a replica of my own faithful Shadow.
Here are some other types of figurines you could get:
cherub figurines
cow figurines
chihuahua figurines
german shepherd figurines
penguin figurines
dog figurines
dolphin figurines
china figurines
When we lived on the farm we never had less than six dogs at a time. That was the norm. We all loved dogs, and they became part of the family. I can remember a time when we had ended up with seventeen Golden Retriever puppies, had by two of our female dogs. The father of the puppies was of course very proud, but I'm sure he experienced just as much frustration as we did in the beginning. As a child I found it absolutely delightful, I named them all according to their characters. Eventually the time came when we had to find homes for all of them. We were all very sad seeing them go, but we knew they were going to good homes and bring much happiness to their owners. Its at times like this when you understand why dog figurines are so much in demand.
Dogs have been an inspiration to many artists. My mother is also an artist. She used to sit down with her drawing book and make sketches of the dogs on the farm. It was what brought her pleasure and watching her enjoy creation was a big part of our life. I remember when she became interested in pottery and started sculpting animals out of clay, especially Golden Retriever or Border Collie figurines . They were beautiful but very fragile, so I was not allowed to play with them, just look at them and admire them. This is when I learnt to appreciate the value of art. Being a dog lover myself I'd started collecting many different kinds of dog sculptures made mostly from clay, plastic and crystal. Later I started collecting figurines made of glass, crystal, brass and pewter. I was proud of my collection. Eventually my friends and family would buy me dog figurines for my birthday and any other occasion until my collection grew so large I didn't know what to do with them all.
If you are looking for any kind of dog figurine, no matter how old, diverse, unique and unusual, you should be able to find it on the Internet. You might need to exercise a little patience, but fortunately with the help of search engines you have a large selection of website to browse through. There are some interesting sites with beautiful pictures of the different dog figurines, with information about the dog breed, its habits and characteristics, as well as pertinent information of when and how the figurines are made and the material that is used. You can also find different styles such as exquisite jewelry and bronze trophies. The selection is vast.
If I may give you a friendly word of advise on cleaning your figurines - dust or wipe your figurines gently once a week if you can. This will keep them looking clean and shiny and your display will be highly appreciated by all your friends and visitors.
Dog figurines will always remain a prized collectable for many who appreciate their value.