A: For most collectibles we recommend dusting with a soft cloth, a small, soft paintbrush or makeup brush, or using the spray designed for computer keyboards, which emits puffs of air to remove dirt and dust particles from small spaces.

Items made of hand-painted porcelain may be cleaned with a mild soap-and-water solution, then rinsed in clear water and carefully dried by hand. However, if they are decorated with simulated jewels, feathers, fabric or leather, they should be hand dusted only. Limited-edition collector plates are for display purposes only. They should never be used for serving food because of the rare metallic pigments fired into the plates for color fidelity.

Never wash any of your fine collectibles in a dishwasher. Avoid placing your collectibles in direct sunlight for long periods of time, and always handle them with care.

A: Many of the items featured throughout our Web site are issued in limited editions. Editions may be limited by:

• An announced number of items
• A specific closing date or
• An announced period of production

Announced periods of production are often expressed in "firing days," "casting days," or "crafting days." The number of days used may or may not be consecutive.

A: Artist's resin is a molding composition prized for its ability to capture intricate and lifelike detail. The time-intensive process for handcrafting a collectible from resin begins when a mold is created from an artist's original sculpture. A skilled artisan pours the liquid resin into the mold (a process called "cold cast" because the resin is not hot), which is then allowed to dry. The finished collectible is carefully removed from the mold, cleaned, and painted by hand.

Since artist's resin is a very delicate material, clean your collectibles made of this material with a soft, dry cloth, a small, soft paintbrush or makeup brush, or by using the spray designed for computer keyboards. Avoid placing your collectibles in direct sunlight and always handle them with care.

A: California Proposition 65 notice for lead crystal: To enhance optical clarity, some crystal products might contain lead, a chemical substance known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.