These unassuming objects can pay off big time.

Thrift stores are choc full of porcelain figurines that once lined a grandmother's curio cabinet. Many people only think to purchase these outdated figures for upcycling projects, like spray-painting ...

Lauren Halsey’s porcelain Black statuettes, collected over two decades, depict people singing in church, playing in the park ...

Hummel figurines have a rich history. The popular porcelain figures ofwind-swept and rosy-cheeked children are based on the drawings of a nun livingin Germany back in the early 20th century — and ...

Hunting at secondhand shops and thrift stores can often lead to the discovery of some hidden treasures. But sometimes it requires a little imagination, especially if that treasure needs some TLC.

A staff member displays a porcelain cup with miniature calligraphy and painting by craftsman Wang Zhiwen during a show at a culture center in Toronto, Canada, April 28, 2015. The show, from April 24 ...

For more than three decades of Carnival, Haydel’s Bakery has paired its king cakes with delicate porcelain figurines, each depicting a specific character or scene from the season — Mardi Gras Indians, ...

TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online ...