Collecting Antique Jewelry

Collecting antique jewelry can be very fun and very expensive at the same time. The key to collecting antique jewelry is to know where to look. Just being slightly informed can not only save you money but time as well.
eBay is a great place to start. You can find not only antique jewelry there but just about anything you could ever want. In the case of antique jewelry the seller has usually done his homework on researching the item and will know what its worth. You will definitely want to buy wholesale.
Another good idea is to check out you local newspaper. Many times people holding estate sales and garage sales will have antique jewelry for sale and they have no idea what it's worth. You can find some great buys.
Always remember that you aren't always going to come out on top. Once in a while however you will get lucky and hit the jackpot. Even in times that you don't you will still be able to enjoy what you have purchased.
Hidden treasures are right around the corner and you never know when you are going to stumble across one. Weekend garage sales and estate sales can very easily become part of your plans and become very addictive. You never know what could be waiting for you.
In the end estate sales will have the best finds. For the most part people who have estate sales are just looking to get rid of stuff and haven't done any real research as to the value of their items they are selling. Yard sales and garage sales do have good finds but the chances of finding something great are better at the estate sales.
Always check eBay. It can't hurt to keep an eye on what's out there. You never know what you will be able to find tucked away.
Another great tip s to always check the feedback section of sellers on eBay should you choose to buy there. For expensive items use the escrow service and keep in touch with the seller as well.
 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brett_Kingston

Antique furniture

Antique furniture is the term for collectible interior furnishings of considerable age; often its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features makes the furniture desirable.
Antique furniture may support the human body (such as seating or beds), provide storage, or hold objects on horizontal surfaces above the ground. Storage furniture (which often makes use of doors, drawers, and shelves) is used to hold or contain smaller objects such as clothes, tools, books, and household goods. Furniture can be a product of artistic design and is considered a form of decorative art. In addition to furniture's functional role, it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose. Domestic furniture works to create, in conjunction with furnishings such as clocks and lighting, comfortable and convenient interior spaces. Furniture can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Cabinetry and cabinet making are terms for the skill set used in the building of furniture.
The earliest furniture was understandably very primitive and only practical, but gradually the furniture also began to have more importance and it became decorated. At this point, furniture became an early status symbol. Wealthy homeowners became more refined and demanded that their furnishings reflect their status and lifestyle

resource:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_furniture

Jaelangkung

Jaelangkung

Pengalamanku ini kualami ketika aku masih duduk dibangku SD sekitar
tahun 1960an, pada waktu itu permainan jaelangkung termasuk permainan
yang populer, maklum karena saat itu belum banyak permainan seperti
sekarang.Pada saat itu permainan jaelangkung dibuat setelah anak-anak
libur sekolah seusai ujian atau ulangan kenaikan kelas, dan biasanya
ditanyai masalah kelulusan atau kenaikan kelas.Jaelangkung dibuat dari
keranjang bambu (kreneng dlm.bhs.jawa),kemudian diberi kayu secara ber-
silang ditengah.Yang keatas untuk meletakkan kepalanya yang kekiri dan
kekanan untuk memasukkan lengan baju kiri dan kanan.dan yang kearah
depan diberi kapur tulis untuk menulis dipapan tulis ketika jaelangkung
sudah kemasukan roh.
Suatu malam aku dan teman-teman membuat permainan jaelangkung didekat
sebuah punden( tempat keramat ) dan kakakku yang bernama mas P menjadi
pawangnya.Demikianlah setelah semuanya sudah siap termasuk sesajinya
yang berupa makanan ringan/kue-kue, kemudian roh jaelangkung dipanggil
dengan membakar hio( dupa cina ) oleh kakak saya.Saya saat itu kebagian
memegang jaelangkung bersama teman saya R, tidak berapa lam kemudian
jaelangkung itu mengangguk-anggukdengan kasarnya dan pegangannya terasa
berat.Lalu ditanya oleh mas P namanya,dan dia menulis diatas papan
tulis dengan kasar pula kemudian jaelangkung itu minta pisang emas dan
minta minum air comberan.karena sudah larut malam tidak ada warung yang
buka sehingga tidak bisa dipenuhi dan jaelangkung itu mengamuk dengan
cara melonjak-lonjak,saya dan teman saya kewalahan memegangi dan akhir
nya pegangan saya saya lepaskan dan lari terbirit-birit pulang kerumah.
Sampai dirumah semalaman saya tidak bisa tidur dan esoknya bangun
kesiangan.
Pengalaman yang lain yaitu menimpa kakak saya mas B yang kesurupan
jaelangkung.Saat itu kakak saya mas P juga jadi pawang jaelangkung dan
membuat permainan jaelangkung dikamar yang angker dirumah tetangga.
Saya dan mas B jadi penonton, demikianlah jelangkung itu minta penonton
satu persatu menyanyi,ketika tiba giliran mas B disuruh menyanyi lagu
patah hatinya Rahmat Kartolo yang waktu itu populer mas B tidak mau.
Saya yang tidak bisa menyanyi buru-buru pulang takut kalau disuruh
menyanyi,sampai dirumah saya kemudian belajar.Tidak lama kemudian
terdengar tangisan anak yang kemudian terdengar pintu rumah digedor
begitu saya buka terlihat mas B menangis sambil menyeringai, saya lalu
memanggil ibu dan kemudian mas B ditidurkan dan ibu memanggil ustad di
kampung. Mas B saat itu masih menangis saja, setelah pak ustad datang
kemudian diberi minum air putih yang sudah dibacakan doa kemudian
ditanyai pak ustad,ketika ditanya namanya ternyata namanya bukan mas B
tapi nama yang asing.Kemudian ditanya, mas B kemana dijawab baru main
main dikuburan.lalu pak ustad minta supaya mas B disuruh pulang,dijawab
sebentar saya panggilkan,dan setelah tengkurap sebentar kemudian telen-
tang dan mas B sudah kembali,terbukti ketika ditanya bisa menjawab
dengan tepat.Oleh pak ustad kami sekeluarga kemudian dinasehati supaya
jangan main-main dengan jaelangkung karena bisa berbahaya.
Mulai saat itu setiap ada permainan jaelangkung aku selalu menghindar
atau kalau terpaksa aku selalu baca doa-doa yang diajarkan pak ustad.
Menurut kisah mas B ketika dia tidak mau disuruh menyanyi dibelakangnya
diikuti orang hitam yang tinggi besar, ketika dia pulang kerumah, orang
tersebut masih mengikuti dan mengajaknya jalan-jalan, karena dia takut
dia mau mengikuti dan digandeng orang itu dan anehnya ketika diajak
jalan-jalan dia bisa menembus tembok.