Animal Themed Collectibles | Collectibles & Collectors Items

Many of us have a fascination with animals which stems from our childhood. No matter what animals you have an interest in, you will always be able to find collectable items based around your favourite creatures. Take a look at our quick guide which includes helpful information on locations to search and the materials used in the production of animal related collectables and figurines.

Where can I look to find the right piece for my collection?
The Internet is an excellent source for any collector searching for the perfect addition to their collection. Due to the sheer size of the Internet and the number of sites available there are numerous sites that specialise in collectables that will be of interest to you. A few quick searches will turn up plenty of websites that concentrate on buying and selling animal related collectables of all kinds. You can also find some excellent pieces on the Internet auction and classified sites. Search features enable you to find the right piece from hundreds of available items in a matter of minutes. Car boot sales are also an excellent place to look for such collectables. You will find that results are somewhat haphazard but if you search hard enough you will no doubt turn up a few fantastic bargains.

There are many types of animal merchandises available on the market today including books, calendars and figurines to keep all types of collectors happy. Take a look at the list of figurine and pottery manufacturers who specialise in animal related collectables below.
Figurine manufacturers and characters to watch out for

Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit was the first story told back in 1983 that started the fantastic world of Beatrix Potter. To this day, millions have books have been sold not to mention a feature film dedicated to this series. Characters such as Tom kitten, Jemima Puddleduck and Benjamin Bunny have spawned countless figurines and collectables providing great items for children and adults alike to collect.
A Breed Apart � The Animal figurines produced by A Breed Apart have been popular with many domestic pet owners due to their excellent pieces featuring cats and dogs. They also produce great examples of farmyard animals if that is your interest. The original sculptor, Grant Palmer, has been well known for creating hand crafted sculptures of all kinds of animals that bring out all of their unique qualities and humorous personalities.
Ewe to Me - The Ewe to Me figurines have been designed by the award winning Toni Goffe capture the beautiful humorous sides of farmyard animals, especially sheep. The inspiration amusingly comes from seeing a number of recently shorn sheep in a field looking particularly grumpy, an image which resulted in the fantastic collection on offer today.
Rupert Bear � The original character of Rupert Bear was created in the early 1920's by Mary Tourtel. Rupert and his friends Bill Badger, Edward Trunk and Algy Pug were immortalised by Royal Doulton in the form of beautiful ceramic creations. A fantastic collection to build for all ages.
Winnie The Pooh � The A.A.Milne characters of Winnie the Pooh, Eeore, Piglet and Tigger have always captured the imagination of children of all ages and make a great item to collect.

What types of pottery can I find?
Types of pottery used
Many types of pottery have been used in the production of animal related figurines over the years. Many of these include

Porcelain
Ceramics
Clay
China
Earthenware
Stoneware
Pottery

Important things to bear in mind
Many of you will build upon your collections by purchasing second hand items from various sources such as on-line sites or boot sales so one of the most important factors to consider is the condition of the item. If you are collecting items purely for your own enjoyment then condition may not be so important but if you would like your collection to be worth something in the future then it will be of paramount importance. Inspecting the condition of items is easy if you are dealing with the seller face to face but if you are buying across the Internet then try to get as much information as possible before committing to a purchase. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the seller to email over some detailed pictures of the items to confirm their condition. This should hopefully alleviate any concerns you may have, giving you the confidence to complete the purchase on-line.

Collecting figurines of all shapes and sizes can be a great hobby but if you are an animal lover then what better collection to build than animal figurines. No matter whether you are obsessed with one species in particular or a more general love of all things wild, you will certainly be on your way to building an interesting collection to be proud of.