Jim Shore Figurines – A Review of Two of His More Popular Figurines

Jim Shore was a master sculptor. His expertise was in jewelry, especially diamonds. And figurines. In this book, he brings together his love of jewelry and art with an appreciation of all things figurines. From ancient Greeks to contemporary artists, each piece is hand-crafted, and Shore has chosen his favorites.

I had the opportunity to see the collection while visiting him in his home. The figurines were on display in a glass-walled, wood-framed room, surrounded by a large and lush garden. The scale of the collection was impressive: the small figurines were about the size of keys, the larger ones were about the size of refrigerator magnets, and the largest were about the size of postage stamps. But I could see that this was just a part of the larger collection, which covered almost every period in artistic history. Jim Shore had a knack for choosing the most visually interesting pieces.

What I found most appealing about this collection was the artist’s ability to take something beautiful and make it meaningful. It was obvious when I visited his home, which happens to be located in sunny California, that he chose his figurines with some degree of care. The figurines were displayed on a wrought iron trellis. On each side of the trellis, tiny surf boards were incorporated with pebbles to create a background for the figurines. When I visited, the surfboard was blank save for a couple of patches of sand. I imagine the surfboard kept Jim Shore busy for many years, creating new projects for his collection as well as adding to the overall value.

Another pair of figurines that I particularly like are the Life’s a beach Blanket figurines. Life’s a beach portrays a serene scene with a couple walking on the beach. On the Beach Blanket figurine is a woman lying on a blanket on the beach with a cup of coffee resting beneath her head. Although these figurines look real enough to touch, the colors on the blanket are somewhat washed out making them seem gray instead of vibrant and beautiful.

All in all, I really enjoyed my experience at Jim Shore’s home and garden. I learned so much about collecting figurines and was inspired to create a collection of my own. There are other pieces from Jim Shore’s collection that I will most likely acquire in the near future. If you are someone who likes vintage items then Jim Shore’s Art Deco collection may tickle your fancy. Also, if you are a beach goer, I recommend looking at his Life’s a Beach figurines.

After only visiting two of Jim Shore’s local stores I am already planning to visit the other two soon. The Figurines from Jim Shore collection are currently going on sale at a local yard sale. I highly recommend grabbing a friend and taking a look. I have heard that the prices are very reasonable and this particular collection is beautiful to look at.