Precious Moments FigurinesCreator Sam Butcher began drawing the endearing children as gifts for family and friends more than twenty five years ago. The Enesco Corporation first offered to develop a three-dimensional figurine based on the artwork Love One Another in the 1970's, and since then the sweethearts with the trademark teardrop shaped eyes have become a very popular gift to commemorate special occasions of all kinds. These days, the Precious Moments figurines inspired by his art are sold in hundreds of locations around the world and are among the top selling porcelain collectibles in history. There are hundreds of different styles of Precious Moments figurines, but they all share the same rounded face, teardrop eyes and soft pastel colors that make them stand out among all the other porcelain collectibles. Some of the most popular Precious Moments figurines are the Birthday series, which feature a different figurine for each month of the year that incorporates a sweet figurine with that month's birthstone or flower to make them an extra special gift for anyone. Enesco has also started an official club that gives collectors the opportunity to purchase specially created pieces throughout the year, as well as high quality display cases and stands. In addition to the nationwide club, there are also smaller, independent clubs for Precious Moments figurine lovers in each state that are great for new collectors and old alike, with members that are thrilled to meet new friends and help you get your collection started out right. Any professional art or collectibles appraiser will be more than happy to take a look at your collection and will be able to tell you exactly how much it is worth. On the other hand, if you're just trying to get a general idea of the value of your Precious Moments figurines, however, there are some easily accessible sources that can help you out. The current Enesco catalog is great to find out the value of currently available pieces, but there are also some excellent price guides out there that are regularly revised to help you figure out where to begin. Having an idea of how much your collection is worth before you have it appraised is very important, especially if you're planning to sell it, because you want to make sure that you're getting the very best price possible. Just like any other collectible pieces of porcelain, the value of Precious Moments figurines can widely vary with their condition, age, and rarity. Price increases by the manufacturers over the years also changes the value of limited edition or club exclusive figurines, as well as those that have been retired, so be sure to take that into account and consult the most current price guide available for an accurate estimate. Caring for your figurines is fairly easy, since they are all made of durable and easily cleanable porcelain with a long lasting finish. Therefore, displaying your figurines on a shelf or in a cabinet is perfectly acceptable as long as you remember to give them a good dusting every now and then to keep them looking presentable. Compressed air, usually used for cleaning computers and electronics, is just the thing. It's not hard to see why Precious Moments figurines are so special to so many people. With an already extremely varied collection available and new designs being released every year, there's no doubt that collectors of these gentle children will be busy for a long time to come. |