Collecting mermaids -- tips and tricks

Why collect mermaids? Mermaids have been a popular image since antiquity, appearing in heraldry, art, literature, and the media. Although mermaids are commonly thought to be an artifact of folklore, mermaid sightings still occur to this day. This makes mermaids a popular item to collect.

If you can think of it, you can probably find a mermaid on it. Look around, you might be surprised where a mermaid for your collection might turn up. And of course, once word of your collection gets around, all your friends and family will bring you mermaid items "because I just thought of you." Watch your collection grow fast.

Some items you might encounter when shopping for vintage mermaid collectibles include:

• Florida souvenirs. If you have visited Weeki Wachee or other mermaid attractions in Florida, you have souvenirs. T-shirts, paperweights, and postcards are the most common pieces.
• Decals by Meyercord.
• Ceramic wall pockets by Norcrest of Japan, and Lefton of Japan.
• Matchcovers. Still popular to collect even when smoking is banned in many places. Many antique matchcovers feature mermaid logos.
• Postcards. Printed on linen paper, these were very popular in the 1930s through the 1950s.

Holiday decor

While uncommon, mermaids do show up in holiday decor. The red and green flocked mermaids are circa 1960. The blown glass mermaid ornaments are from Poland circa mid-1980s. These would be great on a mermaid themed Christmas tree -- especially with some fish ornaments.

Barware

Not just glasses but also tiki mugs, stirrers, and cocktail picks.

Once you have your mermaid barware in order, you can mix up your favourite mermaid themed cocktails:

• Dry Mermaid Martini

  Ingredients

  • 4 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce cherry brandy
  • 2 lemon wedges

  Combine ingredients except lemon in a shaker filled with ice. Strain into glasses, garnish with lemon wedges. Makes two servings.

• Lifesaver

  Ingredients

  • 1 ounce light rum
  • 1 ounce Midori melon liqueur
  • 3 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1 pineapple wedge

  Combine ingredients in a tumbler filled with ice. Garish with pineapple wedge.

• Mermaid's Song

  Ingredients

  • 2 ounces orange juice
  • 1 ounce coconut cream
  • 1 ounce pineapple juice
  • 0.5 ounce lime juice
  • 1 ounce passion fruit juice

  Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into chilled red wine glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

• Painted Mermaid

  Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces vodka
  • 1.5 ounces Chambord
  • 0.5 ounce pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce grenadine

  Shake well with ice in a mixing glass and strain into a martini glass rimmed with coloured sugar.

• Seabreeze

  Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces vodka
  • 4 ounces cranberry juice
  • 1 ounce grapefruit juice
  • 1 lime wedge

  Combine vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice in a highball glass and stir to mix, then add ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

• Sex on the Beach

  Ingredients

  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 0.5 ounce rum
  • 0.5 ounce peach schnapps
  • 1.5 ounce pineapple juice
  • 1.5 ounce cranberry juice

  Pour the vodka, rum, peach schnapps, pineapple juice and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Add heavy cream and shake until frothy. Serve in a highball glass.

• Blue Lagoon

  Ingredients

  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 0.5 ounce blue curaçao
  • 2 ounces lemonade

  Pour into a highball glass filled with ice.

• The Shipwreck

  Ingredients

  • 8 ounces tomato juice
  • 1 ounce lime juice
  • dash of salt
  • dash of pepper
  • dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • dash of Tabasco sauce
  • 1 ounce vodka

  Pour over ice into a lime and salt rimmed glass. Garnish with one thin celery stick.

• Blue Dolphin

  Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vermouth
  • 0.5 ounce blue curaçao
  • 4 ounces lemonade
  • dash of grenadine
  • slice of lemon

  To a tall glass full of ice; add vermouth and blue curaçao. Stir. Top up with lemonade. Add a drop of grenadine. Garnish with lemon slice.

• Seaside Punch

  Ingredients

  • 2 quarts cranberry juice
  • 1 quart orange juice
  • 6 ounces citrus vodka
  • 6 ounces brandy
  • 2 ounces lime juice

  Combine all ingredients in a gallon marked container. Add enough ice to bring the volume up to one gallon, stir and pour into a punch bowl. Garnish with orange and lime slices. Serves approximately 24 people.

• Wavebender

  Ingredients

  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 0.5 ounce lemon juice
  • 4 ounces ginger ale
  • dash of grenadine
  • slice of lemon

  In a tall glass full of ice, combine all liquid ingredients. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice.

• Mermaid

  Ingredients

  • 0.5 ounce dry vermouth
  • 0.25 ounce egg white
  • 0.25 ounce lime cordial
  • 1 ounce Aquavit
  • 0.5 ounce cherry brandy

  Mix and serve in a cocktail glass.

When buying and selling mermaid, bear in mind these three factors:

• Know what you're buying before you buy it. Check reference guides for information on how the piece in question is marked, what sizes it was available in, any variants in painting or colours that you should know about?
• Condition: Is it mint condition? Is it unused? Any chips, cracks, crazing, or obvious damage? A mint complete set of an older item is rare. Ceramic mermaids may be individual, or may come in sets of two or more mermaids with bubbles.
• Demand: Popular items sell for proportionally higher prices simply because there are more potential buyers.

As to where to go, try any of the following:

• Estate sales
• Yard sales
• Flea markets
• Antique stores
• Thrift stores
• Classified ads

Even if you aren't interested in vintage kitsch, there are plenty of modern mermaid collectibles ideas for every taste and household!

• Mermaid books.
• Mermaid films and television.
• Mermaid divination decks.
• Merchandise featuring iconic mermaid logos.
• True merphiles should visit these mermaid destinations for souvenirs featuring mermaids.

And if you still haven't had enough mermaids, how about this collection of mermaid jokes?

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