The Kovels' Top 20 list is based on the results of hundreds of thousands of searches that took place on Kovels' website during January 2012.

What are the most popular collectibles? Those that cost the most? Those that are in the headlines the most? Or those that are interesting enough to make someone search the Internet for information. Our list shows the interests of the average collector. Although there is some change each month, the list shows that idecorative and useful items for the home are tops. This month there were eight kinds of ceramics: Occupied Japan, Royal Bayreuth, Royal Doulton, Royal Copley, Red Wing, Copeland Spode, Bavaria, and Capo-Di-Monte. All except Occupied Japan were working in the 19th century. Seven made decorative figurines, dinner sets, and vases. Occupied Japan made copies of these styles. Only Red Wing made pottery for food storage or cooking and, eventually, “everyday dishes.”

Four of the Top 20 were glassware: amber glass, milk glass, carnival glass, and Depression glass. These were the everyday glasswares of the 1860s to 1930s and are inexpensive enough to use today and to wash in the dishwasher. The rest of the Top 20 are things that have long been collected: cookie jars, Coca-Cola, dolls, clocks, lamps, lighters, and vinyl records. Stoves are a puzzle. Most people have only one stove in their home, so why are stoves so important? Compared to the other categories, few are bought and sold each month yet they are in our "top" list most months.

Pictured—a carnival glass Orange Tree pattern plate that sold for $275 at Seeck Auctions in Mason City, Iowa, and a Royal Bayreuth Saint Bernard dog pitcher, that auctioned for $266 at DuMouchelles in Detroit.

The Top 20 antiques and collectibles searches for January 2012:

1. Occupied Japan
2. Cookie Jars
3. Coca-Cola
4. Royal Bayreuth
5. Royal Doulton
6. Doll
7. Clocks
8. Lamps
9. Amber Glass
10. Royal Copley
11. Red Wing
12. Stove
13. Copeland Spode
14. Milk Glass
15. Lighters
16. Carnival Glass
17. Depression Glass
18. Bavaria
19. Capo-Di-Monte
20. Records

Find more glass and pottery prices in the FREE online price guide at www.Kovels.com and in our newest book, Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide 2012.

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