art paper

Display of 3-D Objects

Introduction to Collecting

The act of collecting may be described as accumulating meaningful or curious subject matter. Whether collecting is driven by instinct, desire, passion, obsession, curiosity, status, or professional research, this activity allows one to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the material. Collecting may be traced back in time to when prehistoric humans gathered found or crafted objects that they thought to be beautiful or powerful. Carved figurines were often symbols of fertility that bore medicinal and religious powers. This tradition continued to expand and evolve with generations to come, resulting in limitless varieties of collectible matter. There is something magical and satisfying about the process of collecting that may be compared to performance. Humans embark on a search, full of anticipation and restlessness, until they find that very special object that satisfies them. Soon after the special acquisition, collectors are once again hungry for the next hunt. A collection is often reflective of an owner, regardless of its purpose or meaning. Stories of origin, history, and relationship to the past and present may be read through the "skin" of each object. Through collecting, people find order, inspiration, and understanding of their life as well as their past and present.

Defining Collectable Objects

Collectibles consist of items that people acquire over an extended period of time. The contents of collections usually have something in common. This relationship may be detected in their appearance, function, or concept. Collectibles fulfill their collector's personal interest or professional research and may take many generations to complete. While collectibles are usually objects of substance that can be experienced through the sense of touch, they may also be conceptual. Memories, experiences, and observations over a lifetime are just some examples of conceptual collectibles.

More conventional collectibles encompass two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. Two-dimensional collectibles might be flat objects such as family photographs, drawings, paintings, collages, mail art, stamps, playing cards, maps, books, journals, periodicals, currency, documents, and more. Objects that possess width, height, and depth fall into the three-dimensional collectibles category. Their massive nature looks and feels voluminous, bulky, and solid. Sculptures, household items, jewelry, cars, scientific specimens, and animals are just some of the examples. Three-dimensional objects often seem to be more attractive and thought-provoking due to their tactile quality. Their plastic form, texture, and size invite viewers to touch the objects and have a more intimate interaction with them.

The Values that Human Beings Project onto Objects

As human beings, we tend to project a lot of meaning onto matter that is memorable or significant to us. Objects that can be touched evoke appreciation of the past and a better understanding of our predecessors. As children we carefully engage with important toys or unique finds, and as adults we store the same items in glass cases, delicately handling them as to not damage the precious mementoes. We crowd our homes with useless belongings just because of their emotional value. For some reason, it often seems too difficult to throw away objects that remind us of our experiences. Discarding them feels as though we are letting small pieces of our lives disintegrate and finally disappear.

The lifespan of an object plays an important part in collecting. People are naturally drawn to extending the life of their collections by preserving them in various ways. For instance, collections of insects, animals, and plants require specialized treatment, handling, and knowledge. Even as amateur collectors we strive to extend the life of our organic finds such as flowers, pods, and leaves by drying them on a window sill or pressing them between the pages of a book. Preservation of significant objects dates back to Ancient Egypt where humans, animals, and personal collections were embalmed to continue their existence after death, supporting the belief that guided their lives. Preserving everything useful for the afterlife required a tremendous amount of patience, dedication, and understanding of the materials. Modern excavations of the past are collected by museums, revealing to us the life-stories of our ancestors.

Thus excavating objects from the ground or other surroundings may be viewed as another form of collecting. It is a crucial part of the gathering process that requires an intimate interaction between the collector and the subject matter. Through excavation we extract the roots of our history and culture. Whether this ritual happens in our backyard or on an archeological site, we gain closure with the discovered matter and obtain a better appreciation and insight into the past.

Symbolism of Sculptural Objects Dating Back to Ancient Times

The symbolic value of sculptural objects may be traced back to the Stone Age, when carved sculptures carried religious and healing powers. These figurines were created with a specific function in mind. They were used as mediators between humans and deities, as charms of luck and protective shields. With time, more and more people began to collect significant figurines that began to resemble their owners. To this day we keep objects close to us that have personal, historical, cultural, or religious significance.

Venus of Willendorf 1

Venus of Willendorf

For instance, Venus of Willendorf is a limestone figurine that dates back to 24,000-22,000 B.C.E. While hypotheses about this curious 11.1 centimeter figurine continue to grow, its meaning and function remain a mystery. Small enough to cradle within one's palm, Venus holds answers to many secrets of the ancient world in a time when women were worshipped as high-priestesses and life-nurturers. Exaggerated breasts, stomach, and hips emphasize her role as a fertility figure that may have been used as a potent charm. Venus's face has been replaced with multiple braids, once again stressing her universal identity. She is a symbol of the Mother Goddess, a miniature object with a large presence.

When discovered in the early 1900s, traces of a red pigment patina or coating suggested attempts to describe female blood, an emblem of life-giving. Since this figurine was carved out of Oolithic limestone it may be described as glyptic because it retained the texture and weight of the stone. It is also tectonic because it has an overall rounded form without accentuated extrusions, since the head, breasts, belly, and hips mold into one unified whole. The scale, shape, and appearance of this sculpture demonstrate how early people instilled value and faith into handmade objects.

Shawabti Box of Nes-mut-aat-neru 2

Shawabti

Shawabti figures dating to 690-664 B.C. are another great example of symbolic sculptures that were displayed in numbers and played a crucial role in the burial practices and beliefs of the Egyptians. These statuettes were carved out of stone or sculpted from mud to resemble the Pharaoh. They were meant to function as Pharaoh's servants in the afterlife. Every culture in one way or another has invested emotional value into objects that were preserved and collected.

Shawabti Figures of King Taharqa 3

Today, we continue to pass down items through the generations. Whether they possess historical, religious, medicinal, cultural, familial, or personal value, they continue to strike us with their beauty and importance. The patina of time may be seen in their aged surfaces that demonstrates just how special they were to their previous owners.