For most of us, collecting is a matter of selecting what we can afford from among those things that we would love to have.
But, what if money were no issue? What if you could purchase anything you wanted for your collections? We often hear of the mega-incomes of our favorite celebrities, so I got to wondering what the rich and famous collect. Some of them were a little surprising!
Doll collecting is one of the largest and most enduring categories of collectibles in the world. Courtney Love collects 1960s Liddle Kiddle dolls; Morgan Fairchild’s tastes run more to antique dolls from Europe, and Demi Moore amassed a collection of old and new dolls so huge that her ex-husband, Bruce Willis, bought her a second house just to accommodate them. And the gals aren’t the only ones with a love for collectible dolls. Sultry leading man, Johnny Depp, is also a doll collector. His passion — Barbie Dolls!
Now that Jay Leno has retired he can dedicate more of his time to the car collection that has become almost as famous as its owner. Housed in the “Big Dog Garage,” which is actually not a garage at all but three adjacent warehouses in a Burbank, California industrial park, are 84 cars and 74 motorcycles, and the numbers continue to climb! In fact, his collection is so extensive that he has a full time team of mechanics to maintain them.
Bakelite jewelry is a passion for two of our great funny ladies, Lily Tomlin and Whoopie Goldberg, who not only collect but enjoy wearing their retro treasures. I have been binging on “The West Wing” on HBO Max and noticed that Tomlin’s character as the president’s eccentric secretary often wears Bakelite jewelry. It comes as no surprise that these are pieces that she added to her TV wardrobe from her private collection.
Old manual typewriters are growing in popularity, but they have been of interest to actor/director Tom Hanks for many years. Hanks’ collection of more than 300 typewriters includes a baby blue Royal Quiet De Luxe c. 1955 and a 1934 Smith Corona portable. His favorite is a vintage 1846 LC Smith Corona, which he takes with him when he travels. He recently announced during an interview on NPR that he plans to write a book of short stories about the typewriter. His best advice to novice collectors? “If you get a $30 deal on a classic in poor shape, be willing to spend 10 times that much to have in restored.”
Vintage and collectible shoes are the passion of many celebrities including singers Katie Perry, John Mayer and Justin Timberlake. Timberlake, like many famous people, has access to things that are unavailable to the rest of us, including a pair of unreleased Jordan’s that are valued at $15,000. But, the largest shoe collector on record appears to be Imelda Marcos, who reportedly left behind more than 6,000 shoes when she and her husband fled the Philippines.
The concept of collecting knows no boundaries — from the bug and rock collections of our youth to the rare book and pottery collections of adulthood. Collecting can inspire us, motivate us and expand our awareness of the world around us. It can be practical or frivolous. It can be done on a budget or without regard to expense. But, one thing stands consistent — collecting enriches our lives. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com