SOME OBJECTS, like comics, can become more valuable because they were considered worthless in their heyday.

Some, like coins, are hoarded for their rarity value. And some are prized for the exquisite workmanship that went into their creation.

The collectibility of china pieces and figurines must surely benefit from their fragility - simply, the more examples of one piece break, the rarer the surviving pieces are.

And the art of creating fine china dates back for hundreds of years. Gaye Blake Roberts, curator of the Wedgwood Museum, said: "In England, the earliest examples of figurines were made for both pleasure and devotional religious acts.

"The arrival, also during the 18th century, of quantities of European porcelain figures popularised these forms.

"Nearly all the English porcelain figures derive from either French or German examples.

"In the 18th century they were conceived as table decorations and would be placed down to the table to provide a talking point and for the amusement of the guests.

"In a catalogue from a Christie's auction of 1771 such figures were described as being, 'only for those who have superfluous money'." That may remain true today, but there are plenty of collectors willing to save their pennies for something truly special.

Harpers, on Bridge Street, Usk, carry china pieces and figurines by some of the best-known contemporary manufacturers.

Jenny Smith, who has been working for the business for the last 20 years, said: "We certainly have a lot of interest in our Moorcroft china. That's all hand-painted and it's quite well-known.

"People will buy it to collect it, because it does tend to increase in value, so people buy it to invest and because they like it.

"Some pieces are limited editions so they always cost more and they appreciate more - they're always collectible, but some go up more than others.

"We have a few Royal Worcester and Coalport figurines, but again their collectibility can depend on whether they are limited edition or not. "For those kind of figures we're looking at about £300 or £400, but for smaller pieces, for example, a tray or a dish, it's a lot less - about £60 or £70.

"Moorcroft china has been around since 1897 but it became very popular in the 1920s and 30s.

"About 15 years ago it came back into favour, but we do get people coming in saying they've got an old piece of Moorcroft. "People have a passion for the workmanship and they see it as something beautiful that's also an investment." Tom Whiteley