Collectibles from different countries Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This beautiful ceramic comes from the Netherlands. It is mainly blue and white, but there are pieces with natural color landscapes, as well as all pink and even all green. The pieces, like vases, dishes, urns, coffee and tea pots, tiles, etc. are decorated with Dutch landscapes with canals, windmills, boats and the typical style of houses around the country. Also, there are famous paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Franz Hals and many other Dutch masters. What is the name of this beautiful ceramic?

Answer: Delft Ware

I first visited the Netherlands in 1965 and was amazed by the narrow houses along the canals, the tulips and the windmills. It all looked like coming out of a storybook. Then, I saw all these beautiful scenes painted on china and I fell in love. This beautiful ceramic ware is mainly made in the City of Delft, the city of Vermeer, who painted from one of the canals.

This collectible is also made in other towns and sold everywhere in the Netherlands. Delftware started in the 16th century, when Ming Porcelain was imported in Europe and the Dutch were not wealthy enough to acquire it, so they tried to imitate it. Later, Delftware acquired a reputation for itself, with Dutch scenes and it was exported to Europe and even Asia. Today, it is called "Delft Blue" (Delft Blaw in Dutch), the brand name which appears at the bottom of each piece.

2. This porcelain is made in Valencia, Spain. The different figurines have either a gloss finish or satin finish. The colors are pale gray, beige, flesh color etc.. All colors are pale and a bit neutral. The company producing these figurines was founded by three brothers who gave their last name to the company. Although the company started in 1953, it became famous at the end of the 1960's. Today, the figurines are sold everywhere in the world. What is the name of this porcelain?

Answer: Lladr� porcelain

Lladr� porcelain has been featured in American sitcoms. In "Will and Grace" , Will's mother has a collection of this porcelain figurines. In the "Sopranos", Carmela Soprano brags about one of these figurines. Also, in "The Nanny"'s 5th season, Freida mentions having a collection, and in "Big Love", it is also mentioned.

3. In the 20th century, this factory was known in all Europe for the excellent quality of the paste used to produce the pieces. In 1917, after the Russian Revolution, the company was nationalized and called the State Porcelain Factory. Today, the factory has recuperated its original name. It manufactures serving pieces and animal figurines. What is the name of this Russian porcelain?

Answer: Lomonosov Porcelain

The factory of this porcelain was established in 1744 at the request of Empress Elizabeth of Russia and for the purpose of serving the needs of the Romanovs and their court. The factory made all the china used by them and you can see in Russian museums the beauty of their art.

There are many pieces sold in the Internet at very affordable prices compared to other dinnerware pieces from different manufacturers.

4. The name of this porcelain does not refer to one particular factory. Instead, it applies to different companies in that city in France. One of them is Haviland. They make beautiful hand painted pill boxes, dinnerware, tea, chocolate and coffee sets, ornamental plates with famous paintings and many more pieces. Antique dealers in the United States are very fond of these collectibles. What is the name used by these companies written under the factories' individual names?

Answer: Limoges

All the other porcelain factories mentioned above were in service in the 18th century but are no longer in existence. Limoges was created in 1771, and since then, several new factories have been opened in the city of Limoges.

5. One of the best known arts from Russia is the manufacturing and painting of lacquer boxes. The art of painting these boxes came from the art of painting icons. Some of these beautiful boxes are in museums because of their detailed beautiful work. What is the material used to make the boxes?

Answer: Papier mach�

After the Russian Revolution that ended the Tsarist society, icons were not popular and many churches were closed. The icon artists needed to survive and they started applying the technique they knew to other objects like plates, pins and other decorative objects.

The lacquer boxes soon became very popular everywhere in the world. Of all the centers where these boxes are made, the village of Fedoskino is the oldest one, which is located near Moscow.

6. Tapestries are beautiful collectibles. I specially like the ones depicting castles. There is a country in Europe famous for the quality of the tapestries they manufacture (and also for their chocolates). When these tapestries were made in the Middle Ages, they were used to improve the dampness in castles and fortresses. Later, in the 13th century, the patrons who ordered them, demanded quality and the depiction of hunting scenes, coronations, weddings and biblical scenes. There was competition between artisans and the ones from this country acquired fame and reputation. Which country is known for its beautiful tapestries?

Answer: Belgium

Tapestries have been made since, at least the 14th century B.C. There have been remnants found in Egyptian tombs as well as Greek and Chinese ones. as evidenced by fragments preserved in museums.
Belgian tapestries have been made of wool, silk, cotton, linen and acrylics. Threats of all colors are used including gold and silver threats.

7. There is an island located 1.5 km from Venice, where a very famous blown glass is manufactured. These companies make wine and champagne sets, glass figurines and the popular "millefiore". What is the name of this island?

Answer: Murano

Glassmaking in Italy started in the 8th century in Rome, as well as in other cities. But it was during the Venetian Republic, in the early 1200s, that the glassmakers were ordered to move their foundries to Murano, an island, as people feared the fire used in glass making could damage the dwellings made of wood. Murano glass is made in different colors.

The use of added metal or salts to the solution to be blown is what determines the color of the glass. For example, to obtain the color aquamarine, cobalt has to be added to the material. To obtain the deepest red, gold has to be added. That is probably why red glass is the most expensive one.

8. I love another collectable: handmade lace, which I have in frames and also under my best porcelains or other crystals.This small country in Europe is famous for the beautiful handmade lace their artisans manufacture. You can even see ladies on the narrow streets of villages like Bruges or in the capital, making lace with bobbins. Of course, this is a sight prepared for the tourists, but there are many factories and stores you can visit around the Grand Place in the capital. Which country am I thinking about?

Answer: Belgium

Belgian lace has been produced for over 600 years. There are historic records of this lace being included in gifts to Princess Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII in 1543, as well as gifts to Queen Elizabeth, who became a customer of Flemish lace artists.
Although lace has been made all over Europe, the Flemish, or the inhabitants of Belgium who speak Dutch, are the inventors of bobbin lace making. In museums all over the world, there are many paintings in which we can appreciate the exquisite pieces of lace worn by the people portrayed in the paintings made in the 16th century.

9. From all my collectibles, the ones people admire the most are my rugs. I used to think all rugs came from Iran, but now I know there are rugs from, China, Turkey, Pakistan, Romania, India and many other countries, some of them, just as valuable. There are several things to consider when purchasing hand made rugs. Which of the following traits is the one that most strongly determines, all other things being equal, the value of a rug?

Answer: The number of stitches per square inch

The number of stitches is definitely what gives the price to a rug because, when the stitches are small, more of them are needed and it takes longer to finish the rug. Other characteristics to be considered are the age and condition of the rug in the case of antiques, the complexity of the pattern and the material used. Some people prefer wool rugs and other people prefer silk. I think we must consider where a rug will be placed.
The art of rug weaving is more than 2500 years old as evidenced by rugs found in the tomb of a prince buried in the 5th century B.C.

10. My last collectibles come from Germany, from the Black Forest. They are made of wood, sometimes in one color and other times, in many colors. Some reassemble little houses or cabins, but they all make noise. What are this noisy collectibles?

Answer: Cuckoo Clocks

Cuckoo clocks are regulated by a pendulum and have a mechanical little bird that sounds like a cuckoo. The type of mechanism installed today has not changed since the 18th century. The first cuckoo clock was made for Prince Elector August Von Sachsen and manufactured by Philipp Hainhofer (1578 - 1647) in Black Forest, Germany.
Today, cuckoo clocks are made in many places in the world, but it is in the Black Forest that the clocks have a trade mark used only in that area in Germany.

Source: Author Babilonia

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

I was always a collector, but I found my "cup of tea" when I was able to incorporate my collections into my home's decor.

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