***MERMAID TALES***

My journey collecting vintage mermaids began some years ago, and to be perfectly honest,  I did not have a clue!  I just loved the ones I had seen in my friends' powder rooms. Each time I would pay a visit, de'ja vous'  took me back to nana's house and a time long ago.  Her walls were filled with beautiful mermaids, fish, starfish - you name it and she had it.  Back then, they were five and dime items that she enjoyed collecting.  Who could have known that some years later, you would have to mortgage your home to own some?

So, my quest began.  I searched auctions sites, estate sales, and even yard sales.  I acquired some at reasonable prices and others I paid top dollar for.  Those that I got from auctions were sometimes disappointing.  I realized I needed to do my homework.

I stumbled upon a book written by Arleen Smith titled:  Ceramic Fish, Mermaids & Seahorses:  Bathroom Decorations of the 1940's & 1950's.  This book has since become my Vintage Mermaid Bible!   For anyone not familiar with this book who perhaps wants to start a collection, it is a wealth of knowledge.  Filled with beautiful pictures and so helpful to me were the names of the companies that made them:  Bradley Exclusives, Japan; Norcrest China Co., Japan; DeForest of California; Ceramicraft; Lefton;  Py;  Freeman McFarlin; Joty;  NAPCO;.  The list goes on.  This helped me to become familiar with and be able to identify and discriminate between authentic vintage and vintage reproduction mermaids.

My vintage mermaid collection is ever increasing.  I have many by the aforementioned companies - most long ago out of business.  I love them all but my favorite mermaids - and they are mostly figurines (wall plaques are rare and hard to find) are those made by Kay Finch California.  These are the most beautiful mermaids I have ever seen.  Should you decide to own some of these beauties, be prepared to pay several hundred dollars for each.