The top 10 collectibles, from dogs to dishes

Those dog figurines handed down from Aunt Trudy might be worth dusting off and putting on display. Country Home's July issue features the magazine's annual list of the top 10 collectibles, and folk-art dogs made the cut.

Editors and antiques dealers base the list on what they see at shows and markets, what is popular out there and what people are buying. The editors also lean toward items that are not completely collected up, and those that dealers expect will continue to grow in popularity over the next year.

Here's a summary of what's hot and what to look out for, with prices beginning at $10.

1. Aesthetic movement transferware: This English pottery from the aesthetic movement (1870 through 1900) typically has Asian-influenced scenes with asymmetric, bold or geometric patterns. Plates in good condition run from $50 to $250; "hollow" pieces, such as soup tureens or pitchers, will be more.

Hang transferware as art. "They're like paintings, and I love that each time I pass them I notice something new," says dealer Tom Newcomer.

2. Six-board chests: These simple 17th- to 19th-century American-made storage chests were constructed out of six wide (usually pine) boards. "These chests were not made by cabinetmakers. They were made by ordinary people in their homes, struggling to survive in a new country," dealer John Maggs says.

Prices run between $500 and $2,300. Use under a window or at the foot of a bed.

3. Enid Collins purses: Painted and adorned with plastic stones, these beautiful mid-20th-century handbags were made by Texan Enid Collins starting in 1959. About $40 to $250, depending on condition. A painted-on signature or initials are a stamp of authenticity. "The purses look phenomenal as a group" on a wall or shelf, says dealer Madge Novel.

4. Garden ornaments: English and French stone ornaments destined for estate gardens, from about 1680 through 1940. Simple pieces are valued from $325 to $850, elaborate carvings in the tens of thousands of dollars. Use them outdoors or indoors. .

5. Pattern-glass compotes: Pattern-glass (also known as pressed-glass) footed bowls were manufactured from 1850 until about World War I. You know it's pattern glass if you see the seams of the molds into which the glass was poured. Compotes usually range from $25 to $150. Fill them with fruit, or use smaller compotes to hold jewelry.

6. Coin silver spoons: These American spoons, made from about 1790 to 1870, were originally cast from melted-down silver coins. A small, basic spoon is $10 or less; one with more decoration can set you back at least $100.

Dealer Lee Berkovits says coin silver spoons are perfectly usable. Mix and match to use them as your everyday spoons.

7. Homespun: Textiles spun in the home and woven by professional weavers in the 19th century were then sewn into bedding, table linens, clothing and grain bags. Non-dyed grain bags in good condition are valued at about $100; sheets about $50. American homespun is slightly more costly than European because it is older and not as available.

Dealer Claudia Glassman recommends slipping a pillow inside a grain bag, or draping yardage over a wing chair or at the foot of the bed.

8. Flourishings/calligraphy: These Victorian-era pen-and-ink drawings were used for calling cards, bookplates, friendship books and framed art. Calling cards are valued from $25 to $45.

Dealer Elizabeth Baird suggests running your finger over a piece; if you can feel a slight raise from the ink, you have a hand-done original, not a reproduction print. Frame and hang your collection.

9. World War I and II posters: Patriotic posters from the United States Printing office aimed to drum up support and recruit for both World Wars. An original Uncle Sam "I Want You" can go for upward of $12,000. Most World War posters range from about $200 to $800. Frame posters under UV-protected acrylic plastic, which breathes better than glass.

10. Folk-art dogs: As doorstops, chalkware and wood toys, they honor everyone's best friend. Dog collectibles are available from $25 for a chalkware figurine to thousands of dollars for cast-iron statues, says dealer Rick Ege.