How My Interest in Crystal Started in a Windmill

My interest in crystal was initiated by two powerhouses - two mothers-in-law. It all started when I went to England to marry my first wife. How fortunate I was to gain a wonderful and caring mother-in-law in the process. Peggy was a wonderful, gracious woman from England's upper social level. She spoke the Queen's English and insisted when you do certain things it must be done "properly”. That was her go-to phrase.

Peggy lived in a very old windmill that she had converted. The interior walls of the first level were lined with teak board paneling. The upper two levels were finished in plaster. The windmill was beautifully decorated with two hundred-plus year old antique furniture from France and England. Cabinets and shelves were filled with crystal, china, silver tableware and numerous small collectibles. She was an avid collector of antique furniture, plates, crystal glassware and crystal figurines.

In a kind, motherly way, she explained the importance of bringing beautiful things of value into the home and that it could be done inexpensively once you knew the true value of something. In ten days, Peggy instructed me in the ins and outs of collecting and bargain hunting with the emphasis on quality and workmanship.

I was a willing student. I must admit I was stunned by the artistic style and craftsmanship of her collector plates and crystal. I could see how all these beautiful items she loved made her feel. Her collectibles were a treasure to her because she enjoyed them so much.

She was fond of saying that “Something isn’t valuable unless it has value for you.” That was her buying philosophy and one of many that she instilled in me.

Her collection and tutelage is what sparked my interest in crystal and china. Peggy would come to America every couple of years and we all went shopping in the second-hand stores picking up odd pieces here and there. She could really find the bargains.

On one visit, she joined in the bedtime story routine with my daughter. She noticed the figurine my daughter held depicting an animal in the story. Gran was curious so I explained that the story was more enjoyable for her granddaughter when she held the figurine. My daughter had a great deal of fun putting the figurine through actions of the characters in the story or fairy tale. I told her I couldn't find any other figurines for other stories and fairy tales I wanted to read. She said she would get them for me in England. I'd send her the name of a story or fairy tale and Gran would send a figurine

After a couple of years of enjoyable bedtime stories, my daughter had an interesting collection of figurines and my interest in crystal was expanding from glassware to figurines of all types, especially crystal animals

Peggy was a grand lady. But what she taught me has stayed with me these past forty years. After passing on, her windmill home was declared a historical treasure by England's Historical Society and open to the public for short periods of time. I will always remember her impressive collections and the instructions she kindly gave to me.

I was a bachelor for a quite a few years and highly focused on my career working in corporate America and traveling extensively as a Management and Business Training Consultant.. Unfortunately, I got away from collecting for awhile because I was so busy.

Somewhere in all that malaise I met a wonderful woman who captured my heart. I was hired to write a book and spent six weeks in Yugoslavia doing research. Being away from her made me realize that this lovely lady was to be my life’s partner. We married and in the deal I had another charming and endearing mother-in-law. How lucky can a guy get?

My new mother-in-law, Marge, took us under her guidance and patiently encouraged us to add crystal into our home décor. We took many shopping trips together to outlet malls and craft shows picking up crystal vases, serving plates and other crystal items that would be functional and beautiful additions to our home

Like Peggy, Marge stressed the importance of quality and the confidence in buying brand names like Waterford, Lenox, Makasa and Swarovski. I know what I like, but as a man I’m not up to speed on all those home décor touches a home needs. I was totally reliant on my wife’s and mother’s-in-law feminine prowess to choose the appropriate items.

They chose well and I have always been pleased with their purchases. Marge was a great guide along the way.

My wife and I now have a nice collection of china porcelain, crystal stemware and glassware and crystal figurines. Of all our collectibles the ones that bring me the greatest pleasure are the crystal animals and crystal figurines. Perhaps it is because of those fond memories of my daughter playing with those figurines as I read the bedtime fairy tales to her.

Along the forty year path of collecting, I have managed to acquire a few crystal figurines that are quite old and no longer made. I don’t care about their resale value. I care about the artistic and craftsmanship of the pieces. Gran would be proud and Marge is pleased.