The Lost art of Collecting

The great collecting comeback (and why we’re hooked)

Do you remember those hazy days before smartphones and Ikea, when it was almost compulsory to collect something?

Grandparents had their stamp albums and fine china; parents had vinyl records and souvenir tea towels; and kids spent hours swapping stickers, football cards and action figures.

For a while, minimalism took over. We chucked out the chintz, but lost something important along the way. Thankfully, the days of the collector are officially back. In a highly digital world, Gen Z and millennials are leading a curation comeback. We all crave tactile, real-world connections: handpicked objects are tangible anchors to our memories, places we’ve visited and people we love.

But what drives us to collect? And what are we searching for?

Why do people collect things?

The nostalgia hit

In an era of Spotify playlists and cloud storage, owning something physical feels rebellious - and deeply comforting. Holding a physical object transports us to simpler times and engages all our senses in a very satisfying way. It’s why vinyl records, retro lo-fi cameras and real books are seeing record-breaking sales.

Travel souvenirs and the thrill of the hunt

Psychologists suggest that collecting satisfies our ancient, evolutionary need to forage. For many collectors, half the fun is the story of where they found their latest treasure. Discovering a quirky independent gift shop on holiday and spotting the perfect new addition is a happy memory in itself.

The art of curation

Your home is a canvas, and the things you collect tell the world who you are. A collection isn’t clutter; it’s a curated gallery of your personality. It tells a story of where you’ve been, what you love and how you see the world. The word “curation” actually means “take care of,” and collectors get huge pleasure from arranging and looking after their treasures.

What are the most popular things to collect?

While fi ne art and wine will always have their place, the most popular collections today are surprisingly accessible and full of character:

● Vinyl records: For the love of analogue sound and beautiful cover art.

● Action fi gures and pop culture toys: Tapping straight into childhood nostalgia.

● Vintage glassware and ceramics: Bringing unique, colourful history to our shelves.

● Travel souvenirs: Tactile tokens of places we've explored.

● Hand-carved characters: Whimsical, individual pieces that feel alive.

Did you know? Even celebrities are secret hoarders of the unique. Tom Hanks famously collects vintage manual typewriters, while actress Amanda Seyfried is a passionate collector of taxidermy!

Hunting “in the wild”: Meet the ducks in person

There is something special about choosing your first (or thirty-first!) character in real life. Because every single one of our characters is individually hand-carved and painted, they all have their own unique expressions, tilts of the head, and colourful personalities.

When you visit one of our lovely local stockists on your travels, you get to:

● Feel the quality: Run your hands over the smooth, warm bamboo root.

● Look them in the eye: Find the special duck or feathered friend that seems to be looking right back at you.

● Support local: Champion the wonderful independent gift shops that bring high streets to life.

Plan your next hunt: Use our Stockist Locator to find a shop near you, and start collecting memories.

Start your own story

Every great collection - and every beautiful fl ock - begins with a single character.

But be prepared: a little dabble can easily turn into a lifelong romance. One duck needs a friend, two start a family, and before you know it, there are puffi ns nesting in your bathroom!

Who will be your first? Explore our hand-carved characters today, or tell us your story at [email protected]