Mermaids are my favorites but they have become popular and are now very expensive. The mermaid above has been animated by my sister using a touch of computer magic.

Mermaids
Deep sea divers
Bridges and gates
Ships and windmills
Lighthouses, lanterns, & mills
Aquarium signs
The top of the shelf unit

Beth's Aquarium Ornaments
(also called Aquarium Furniture)

The June 2007 issue of Antiques and Collecting magazine has an article called "The Elusive, Collectible Mermaid" by Catherine Owsianiecki. It includes several photographs of my mermaid collection and an interview with me. Catherine's personal web site includes the article.

I will soon add more images of aquarium ornaments to this site and will also expand the offering of aquarium ornaments in my GoAntiques shop. Please check back.

While none of the aquarium ornaments displayed on these pages are for sale, I have some duplicates from my collection listed in my online booth, Do you remember this? at GoAntiques cyber mall. Follow this link to see an overview of my inventory on GoAntiques or to purchase items. Thanks for looking.

When I answer the question, "What do you collect?" the list is rather long, since I come from a family of avid collectors. The answer that causes the most puzzled expressions is "Aquarium Furniture." You may also ask "What?" I explain, "You know the little ceramic castles, mermaids, and ornaments you put in aquariums or fish bowls." That rings a bell with almost everyone.

My first aquarium piece was given to me by my Father around 30 years ago. It was a small bisque mermaid reclining on her side with her hands behind her head. Her color had long since faded from her life in a wet environment, but she still had a whimsical appeal. I think my father probably acquired her when he was helping clean out an old salvage store.

My husband and I set up an aquarium just after we married and kept it for several years. I loved looking at the fish and the peaceful underwater world I furnished with an assortment of old ornaments that I learned were called aquarium furniture. After the children came along the aquarium was relegated to the garage, but the aquarium furniture stayed on the shelf in the den along with my collection of sea shells. In those days aquarium ornaments were fairly easy to find in flea markets and antique stores. They were inexpensive and usually ranged from $2 – $5. I added more members to my mermaid family. My village came to include castles, pagodas, bridges, windmills, rock formations, and even a few cottages and skyscrapers. I now have lots of signs, all types of sea creatures, and many, many other categories. All together I have more than 250 pieces. The smallest miniature building is around 2/3" and the largest more than 11".

I only collect vintage pieces in ceramic and glass. Most current aquarium furniture is poly resin and it is colorful but does not have the same quality and feel of the older pieces. I haven't found any collector's books on aquarium ornaments, so let me know if you are aware of any. I am always interested in corresponding with other collectors. If you collect aquarium furniture drop me an e-mail. Maybe we can start a society or get a book published.

Above and to the left you see a selection of some of my earliest acquisitions. Oriental architecture is the most prevalent theme but lighthouses, bridges, fish and other underwater life, windmills, classical ruins, and mermaids are also represented.

On the left is a selection of blown glass fish, bubbles, sea creatures, and a flower. I was told they were purchased from Marshall Field in Chicago in the 1920s. At one time I had several flowers but they were wiped out in a display case accident.

Below is a selection of bridges, a popular form for aquarium furniture.

Above is a selection of some of my sea creatures such as a crab, fish, frog and the octopus also shown above.