Top 10 country collectibles

Looking to welcome the new year with a fresh collection or two? Start your search here, with Country Sampler's annual list of antiques that are gaining momentum in the marketplace today. We've scoured the country looking for collectibles that have increased in popularity or price over the past year, and the most highly sought-after items (which are not arranged in order of importance) range from handmade quilts and adorable honey pots to advertising crocks and vintage veterinary products.

1. Quilts. Cozy, warm and full of character, quilts are among America's favorite collectibles. The quilts shown here were all made in the United States, are hand-sewn in tiny stitches, and are cotton, not polyester; all of these factors add to the quilts' value.

Prices for antique quilts can vary greatly. The costliest example in this collection is the "Home Sweet Home" crazy quilt in the foreground, which is worth $750. The purple and green 1930s blanket covering the couch was a lucky purchase at $75, considering that a good-quality, mid-range quilt goes for $250 to $450. A fine 18th- or 19th-century quilt in mint condition can fetch thousands of dollars.

2. Honey pots. Honey pots first became common in the 1850s, but their popularity boomed after Winnie the Pooh stories started appearing in the 1920s. With pieces available for as little as $5, ceramic and glass honey pots can be a sweet deal when it comes to collectibles.

As well as being priced from just dollars up into the thousands for extremely rare pieces, pots range greatly in form, maker and country of origin (English potteries, such as Beswick, join Japanese, German and American makers). Hives are the most common shape represented by honey pots, but bees, flowers and simple jugs can also be found. When shopping, pay close attention to bees' wings for chips and signs of restoration, and keep an eye out for re-glued wings.

3. Lusterware. Copper lusterware refers to pottery with an overglazed finish that gives it an iridescent effect. The ancient process dates back to ninth-century Persia and involves applying a metallic solution to the surface of a piece of pottery before the final firing. Metals such as silver were also used in the ware's manufacture, but the most common finish was copper.

Lusterware came into fashion during the Victorian era thanks to its vivid, reflective characteristics, which appealed to people who lit their homes by gas and candlelight. Although these colorful containers were mainly used as interior design accent pieces, people of all economic levels collected it.

Today, there is new interest in lusterware, particularly the better made and more intricately designed pieces. The bad news is that because of its delicate nature, very few antique pieces have survived intact. The good news, however, is that examples with small chips and cracks -- although they don't have any substantive value -- make wonderful decorative additions that fill out a collection and can be purchased for as little as $5 to $20. Even some of the best pieces, as shown in this collection, don't command excessively high prices and can be had in the $150 to $300 range.

4. Advertising crocks. Crocks that feature advertising graphics can be found in antiques shops, malls, and even yard sales and flea markets throughout the country. Most of these containers were made from the end of the 1880s until around the turn of the 20th century and were used to store all types of food and beverages.

Advertising crocks are popular for their uniformity in size and color, as well as for their relationship to long-gone shops or vintage foodstuffs. These are not pricey items, as most sell in the $40 to $60 range.

5. Antique molds. Used in Western Europe, England and the U.S. starting in the late 1800s, candy and chocolate molds are available in a wide variety of seasonal, human, animal and figural styles. Originally, molds were used to make barley sugar candy, and later used to create three-dimensional chocolate and ice cream treats. Collector Chris Robinson advises that antique molds be employed for decorative and craft use only, as the metals used to make them could contain harmful elements.

Prices vary greatly depending on size, condition, age and country of origin.

6. Walking sticks. Hand-carved walking sticks with ornately decorated handles are a unique form of folk art and are a visual treat when grouped together. This kind of folk art is proof that people can find a way to express themselves creatively while at the same time making something needed and practical. A collection of walking sticks provides a delightful dose of color, texture and whimsy when housed in a tall crock, a butter churn or another similar container.

Prices vary according to the detail and the novelty of the item.

7. Antique glass bottles. After being stagnant for about 30 years, the market value of antique bottles has been accelerating in the last few years. Although there are bottle specialty shops in most major communities and collectors' clubs throughout the country, antique bottles can be found in many other venues; the most serious collectors have discovered rare and wonderful specimens in commonplace flea markets and antiques malls. If you are investing substantial money, it's highly advised that you buy from reputable dealers and collectors, as there are many fakes in the marketplace.

As with all antiques, rarity, appeal and condition earmark value. In the case of antique bottles, however, "color is king," says Charles Flint, a major dealer and collector in Lenox, Mass. A uniquely colored specimen will usually command a higher market value than a similar bottle in a commonplace color; whether or not a color is more valuable varies depending on the style of the bottle in question.

Size and primitive quality also affect value.

8. Painted wood butter paddles. Wood butter paddles and other kitchen items painted on by ladies of the Victorian era are another group of collectibles that are finding renewed popularity among both collectors of country items and dealers rediscovering their beauty.

Small cottages in the snow are frequent subjects, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, where winter daylight hours were limited, and cold and snowy weather kept ladies indoors. Painting pictures of their own snowbound homes was a logical theme for women who liked to paint these paddles. Another recurring subject is sailing ships on the water; women likely produced these images while they waited for their sailor husbands to return from sea.

Collector Melody Bostick says, "I've been collecting these for years and got lucky with the ones I bought. Mostly, mine were well under $100." However, paddles found in high-end shops, especially in New England, can go a bit higher.

9. Vintage veterinary products. Most of the veterinary products that came on the market between the turn of the 20th century and the 1930s were manufactured by small local companies. To better compete in the expanding animal care industry, these small businesses used highly individualistic designs on their packages as marketing tools to catch a buyer's eye.

Many collectors love them for their unusual graphic appeal. "I bought most of mine at least 10 years ago, and most of these ranged between $45 and $65," one collector says. "But, they are catching on."

10. Photo buttons. Made of celluloid, these sentimental family treasures can be traced back to the 1930s, when thermoplastics came into wide use thanks to their ability to be molded and shaped easily. These buttons were used as a frame background for personal photos much the same way picture frames function today. Depending on size, the buttons could either be worn on clothing or set in a rack and placed on a table or shelf.

These visual treasures offer a triple whammy for collectors. With their bold graphics and vintage portraits, they are popular design pieces, providing a fond look back at people of an entirely different era. The buttons are also desirable because they are generally affordable, with most pieces costing from $50 to $70 based on condition and boldness of design. The grander the graphic design on the button, the higher the price.