Having said that, I do have one, and only one, collection: a handsome assortment of delicate, porcelain demitasse cups & saucers acquired when I worked with Waterford-Wedgewood as a merchandiser. There was something irresistible about these precious little sets. One day I purchased one. Weeks later I selected a new cup and saucer to come home. Over time I gathered, oh, six or seven of them. No two are alike. Each cup/saucer pairing holds its own look, its own meaning, its own story. It was my first, and presumably only, collection.
"Demitasse" translated literally means "half cup" - these are essentially espresso cups much like you see in cafes across Europe and occasionally here in the States. Oddly, I don't have these on display. Nor have I ever found a suitable way to present them. They are kept in their original Wedgewood boxes, wrapped in tissue and completely unused. Although I never take them out to look at them, I cherish this little collection of priceless pieces, as much for their emotional value as any financial worth.

They remind me of a time in my life when I was just beginning to figure out who I was as a person. I was developing my sense of style, my sense of "being" and my sense of accomplishment. I had suddenly discovered that I had a specific "taste" and on some level I suppose I thought that these glamorous little porcelain creations were proof of that notion. Isn't it funny to look back and figure out why you did the things you did?

Although I was unable to find any photos of them online (they seem to be discontinued), these Hermès mugs are styled in the exact same shape and proportion as the tiny espresso cups I have in my possession.

All of this led me to wonder...what do you collect? Anything? What does the collection mean to you? What do you do with it?