Religious & Spirituality Memorabilia | Collectibles & Collectors Items

There are a number of collectibles from all the world religions to buy, however predominantly the range available is from the Christian religion. People buy religious artefacts for a number of different reasons. They might buy an article to complement their faith or for a purpose within religious practice, or as a gift to a loved one. Others might buy a religious article to add to a collection of religious memorabilia. It is also popular to buy religious objects associated with other collections; for example, World War II. War collections are very popular, and there are quite a few religious items that represent icons from World War II, in addition to items from this era with sentimental and emotional value. People collect items for all kinds of reasons, so this will simply guide you towards what you can buy, how much it might cost and which items are best suited to which purpose.

The Range of Religious Items
There are a large number of religious objects to buy. There are mainly Christian items which range from the expected items such as crucifixes, candles and beads to more unusual collectible items such as wooden carved statues. There are also items linked with saints such as medals, jewellery and figurines, or more ordinary items with a religious theme such as clocks and portraits. Other popular items include angels, nativities and stars. There are also items from other religions such as popular Buddha statues and Jewish medals and candles. Prices vary depending on whether the item is rare, antique, handmade or mass produced. Second hand items are usually a lot less costly and it is advisable to buy antiques, rare items and collectibles second hand from individual sellers to save money. Other items such as candles for example, should not be bought second hand for obvious reasons.

Buying Religious Gifts
There is a wide range of religious gifts, suitable for a variety of people. Religious gifts have a particular significance as they are usually more meaningful than other gifts. They often have sentimental value attached and will be kept for years, probably handed down through generations of family, and outlasting many other gifts given on special occasions that are soon forgotten.

Popular gifts include Jesus prints, candles, trinket boxes, saint statues, religious books, bible covers, cross pendants, crucifixes, wall plaques and bible scriptures. Angels are also very popular as guardian angels are popular to give to newborns and small children. Other items such as desk stands, coffee mugs, pens or key rings are more popular to give to men. Gifts for women include jewellery, books and decorative pieces for the home such as wall hangings or statues.

For Catholics you can buy gifts that correspond to their name or personality, such as a Saint related gift. Saints such as Saint Jude who is a miracle worker, Saint Francis who is the patron of animals, or Saint Michael who fights evil are all represented in a variety of gifts. The saints are found in medals, plaques, cards and statues and many correspond to a particular job as well as a name. There are saints for teachers, nurses and fishermen to name but a few. Other gifts for Catholics might include rosaries which are made in a variety of colours, and range from antique to brand new. There are also many gifts relating to Mary as well as religious pins, scarves, tea cups, garden stones and charms. Other gifts for young people might include dog tags, t-shirts, book bags and journals, although these types of gifts are less likely to remain in the family and be handed down to the next generation. Instead these types of gift which have less religious reverence but may suit the receiver better have the same kind of life span as most gifts, and should be bought new rather than second hand. Most of these gifts will cost around �10 or less, as will most new small religious gifts compared to antique and hand crafted gifts which cost significantly more.

Collectible Items and Antiques
The more expensive collectibles tend to be items from specialist stores and might be branded or designed by an artist of standing. For example an artist might design a nativity scene, the Last Supper, a decorative wreath or stained glass portrait. These types of item are usually worth more than �100 in new or mint condition. They are usually quite rare and are designed to sell for particular occasions such as Easter, Christmas and Mother's Day. There are a number of different items to choose from and these are usually bought to be treasured gifts that will be kept for years, including music boxes, pendants, ornaments and plates. Branded items are mostly jewellery designed by well known companies such as the Bradford Exchange or Ashton-Drake. Respected artists such as Lena Liu, design sculptures and pictures of religious figures and scenes.

Antique items are the most expensive type of religious object you can buy, and are most suited to serious collectors. These can be very expensive, particularly the larger, more unusual original pieces which usually include carvings and sculptures. They can range from a few pounds to thousands of pounds depending on the age of the item, the condition, size and value. While pieces of great artistry tend to fetch the highest prices, other items also have their worth. Medals tend to be more expensive than jewellery particularly if they are from a significant time such as the World Wars, as they are also valuable as war memorabilia as well as religious collectibles. However when buying medals or other memorabilia from this era, it is important to verify that it is genuine as there are many copies of medals and other items that are currently mass produced. These types of items can often be bought at a far less expensive price from individual sellers, as opposed to buying from specialist shops or online companies.

Buying Religious Memorabilia
Buying religious items is a consideration for many of us as they make great and unusual gifts. Some more expensive gifts can be ideal for a very special or once in a lifetime occasion such as a Christening or a key wedding anniversary. Some religious gifts are suited to particular holidays such as Easter. Others might be suited to particular people and their personalities. There are also collectible items for serious collectors which are usually more expensive. Such items can be bought and built into a fascinating and unusual collection. While many of the gift items should be bought new, items for personal use (e.g. books), and certain collectibles may be found second hand, as the best bargains can be found here if you know what you are looking for.