Collecting and adoring figurines is a huge long-standing hobby for many Australians within the decades. Vintage and modern figurines in many cases are treasured memorabilia, passed down through families or collected as souvenirs from travels. Today, the desire for collecting remains, with many individuals creating impressive collections that vary from comic book heroes to Disney characters. In this post, we'll explore the history of collectible figurines australia, including their rise to popularity and the reasons why they're still admired today.
Figurines have been around for centuries, having initially been created throughout the Han Dynasty in China between 206 BC and 220 AD. These pieces were made of clay, and produced for religious and ritualistic purposes. Figurines became increasingly popular in Europe in the 18th century, often made using more expensive materials, such as for example porcelain. This expansion gave birth to the German ‘golden age'of porcelain production, which remained popular through the entire 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Australia, collectible figurines first became well-known in the late 19th century after the importation of British-made coal-scuttle figurines. These figurines featured British soldiers and officers, such as the Highlanders, and were popular amongst European settlers in Australia. The production of figurines quickly expanded with the mass production of popular characters, culminating in 1911 with the mass production of the iconic ‘Golly'doll by Robertson's Jams.
The popularity of figurines in Australia exploded in the 20th century, with a growing fascination with popular culture staples, such as for example Star Wars and comic book characters. The initial Australian-made collectible figurines were created during the late 1970s by Melbourne-based company, The Good Soldier, with figurines of popular Australian TV show characters. Soon after, many different companies began producing their particular lines of collectibles, with popular franchises including Looney Tunes, Walt Disney, and Doctor Who.
These collectible figurines remain popular in Australia today, attracting many avid collectors. Collectors often search for and purchase rare and limited-edition models, which can be worth 1000s of dollars. Additionally, there are numerous clubs and societies dedicated to collecting figurines, including the Australian Figurine Collectors group, which has a membership in the thousands.
In Short:
Collectible figurines have played a significant role in Australian culture for greater than a century, and continue steadily to captivate collectors both young and old. Their popularity stems from their unique craftmanship and the emotional attachments that we create with the detailed and familiar figures. From British soldiers to comic book characters or even Disney princesses, these figures have played a fundamental role in Australian's history, and continue to charm and entertain collectors nationwide. While the hobby continues to get popularity, it's exciting to anticipate the new figurines that will emerge and continue to mesmerize us for a long time to come.