Your goal in collecting  

years ago I went to friends...
years ago I went to friends homes and drooled over their collections, I would go home and scour the internet for deals on furniture I never thought I would be able to afford. My wife and I now have the collection I/we had always wanted and have, between getting deals and selling pieces we no longer need, pretty much broken even as far as our investment. Now that we have almost all we had wanted and now of course want different things, pieces I/we didn't even know existed years ago when we started looking and drooling.
I think we'll be in constant flux with our furniture but probably not quite as much now that all of our furniture is furniture we love. Art is our next venture I'm sure and that might be more difficult, who knows?
interesting topic by the way

You've summed it up nicely.
"... fun learning experience."
If "investment" were my motive, it would take any fun right out of the equation for me. I hope to give all of my good stuff away to someone who shares my attitude someday.

Agreed, tktoo. I never want m...
Agreed, tktoo. I never want my hobby to be a business because that's what kills the joy. I never purchased to sell; it's more of an organic process. However, I have to say it feels good to know that I picked out a piece that's "worth" more than what I paid. Value is a funny concept. One time my friend commented on my LCW's as being no different than some toy chairs in public schools.
I hope one day I'll get to a place where I feel I can "pay it forward" with my collection. You have my respect, tktoo.

I was bitten by the MCM bug
a few years before it got popular with the local dealers. So, lucky for me, I scored some nice things for cheap at local auctions. And I do mean cheap--Wegner J16 rocker for $15, Moller chairs 2/$22, Westnofa recliner for $2...
I still have some of those early purchases but many were sold at a profit after awhile as my tastes became more particular and my needs (space-wise) changed. I put the money into stuff that I liked even more, or that I needed due for other reasons. (I'm working on another deal at the moment! woohoo!)
I don't think I could do it this way again, though you never know what with the way trends change.

Kaizen
Continuous improvement is my main goal for collections of things that are not put in use. For everyday furniture, I have been leaning more towards the practical and durable. I do buy and sell to help offset the cost, and so the sum total of everything that remains in my possession has a net cost of approximately zero.

This thread has my brain bent and buzzing.
I don't know why I collect what I collect. I used to have a modest car collection, but every purchase was motivated by the future value. I now only have 1 classic car, and it's not for sale. Furnishings and art are purchased, and occasionally donated to my fav charity, because I just like and appreciate the piece, and I don't really care about the value. Now I have a borderline out-of-control mens clothing/shoe addiction. This probably stems from some deep rooted insecurity that will reveal itself in proper time. And I just don't know why I'm constantly shopping for my next pair of eye-glasses. I just don't know.
Drinks are on my tab, order up.
Aunt Mark

No doubt you need an intervention, Mark.
But, until then, you're among fellow addicts here. No explanations or excuses required.

That's very kind,
Thank you.

Whatever makes one happy ...
While not hurting others is my philosophy.
Collecting ceramics is my passion, and, over the years, I have learned to be a little more selective in what I purchase. If I had my way, I would buy anything I liked, but space in my home is a luxury. Also, clutter doesn't sit well with me. So, I now find myself giving away pottery that is either of lesser value or no longer appreciated by me to friends and family in order to make room for pieces that I love even more. Edit, edit edit.

I am probably pretty predictable on this one...
My addiction started with almost all thrift shop and flea market finds many years ago. (And I would also find stuff and trade it to dealers who had stuff I wanted) and was lucky that I started before 1990, so things were still very easily "findable" for quite awhile.
I would easily break even if I ever sold a few of my early finds and trades, but I will probably leave that to whomever finds me dead!
I pay for things much more often now that stuff is so much harder to find. (Especially if I know I'm never gonna see a particular item again anytime soon)
It's just basic obsession. I love the invention and sculptural/visual aspects, love the "forensics" (every little design change is like some huge epic story and legend) and I love the the patina of life on stuff. The narrative suggested.
Best thrift shop finds ever were a pair Eames storage units found in 1999 (painted over in grey at the time- probably in the 80's- and probably why I was even able to spot them first) for 60 bucks. Still have em. A flea market DTW-50 dining table in perfect condition for 5 bucks. (since traded. I like the low version "beverage" table much better) An Arne Vodder solid teak 6' case for under a hundred. A good many Nelson clocks for 2 to 20 bucks apiece (and then I started paying...) (Anyone know where I can find a spare perforated basket for that Nelson Secretary desk?)
I dont have "Nelson" in my screen name, but I've been collecting his original clocks and bubble lamps just as obsessively as I have the Eames armshells all these years. (Along with the shells, I love all of the Eames bases too- the different manifestations and developmental changes)
I am so lucky that Eames shells are stackable. I don't have to let practicality get in the way.

Panton
I have been collecting my whole life, from stickers to matchboxes, from records to guitars and amps.
Since 15 years i have been into design and perticulary design by Verner Panton.
By chance i was in London in 1998 and had a day off, read through the magazine Time Out and saw that there was a Verner Panton exhibition at the London design museum and decided to go.
It was a life changing moment for me and i have been hooked since then and now sit with a fairly large collection of his design.
I have been thinking alot what drives all this and have come to the conclusion that it is an addiction in some form, at least for me.
Nothing is as good or fun as the last piece i aquire for my collection and i feed of the buzz of finding something rare or cheap, or in best cases both!
If i should be honest with myself there are very few pieces in my collection that i deeply love and could never think of parting with.
But collecting is fun!
I love the archeologist aspect of it, trying to find information about pieces and their development, discover things that no one has thought about before etc, and then all the stories behind certain peices that can be very interesting and satisfying in themself.
So, i will not likely check myself into rehab sometime soon!

..... ....... .....
Sweet Ray Eames didn't.
Betty Ford had a cluttered
clinic..oh, Charles.
Bashfully,
Aunt Mark

If I talk, I try to improve...
If I talk, I try to improve upon the silence. If I collect, I try to improve upon the emptiness. And I am very fond of both silence and emptiness.

.
100%, what is it with noise these days? I just want to do very bad things to people sometimes. And stuff, stuff stuff stuff.
Although I'm well on the way to owning a ridiculous collection of planes now, after getting rid of most of my furniture (anyone want two cappellini benches? They're shit) I spend an extraordinary amount of money buying things to make...more furniture.