Over recent years the market for collectables has grown out of all proportion. eBay and other auction site have made it easy for us to auction our bargains we have found in car boot or garage sales. However, it is getting more and more difficult to find a bargain, because half the nations seems to be out looking. While it is not necessary to be an antique expert it does help to know a little about the market and especially what particular objects are likely to sell well at an auction. Fashions come and go, listed below are some of the items that always seem to do well and have collectors trying to outbid each other.

Clarice Cliff

When Clarice Cliff produced her first designs, the sales reps laughed at the designer, but returned two days later having sold the lot. Since then her rise in popularity has been phenomenal. She is probably the best known pottery decorator ever and Clarice epitomises the Art Deco movement. Avoid her plain pieces and save up for the magnificent Art Deco designs such as Gayday. The brightly coloured Bizarre patterns are the best but expect to pay up to £350 for a coffee cup and saucer.

Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter's whimsical animals such as Peter Rabbit and Miss Tiggywinkle have been immortilized through her books and by the array of collectables by makers like Wedgwood and Beswick. Modern collectors would be advised to look at Border Fine Arts' resin range. For many the top buy is the 'Duchess' by Beswick. The black dog with the gold backstamp (the most desirable of the Beswick marks for BP animals) was thought too unattractive for mass production. Although prices are not as high as they were you can expect to pay up to £1,600. The recent movie about Beatrix Potter will have revived interest.

Steiff

When it comes to bears, Steiff leads the field. Renowned for their trademark button in the ear, the top-quality make has a vast international following, many of whom are willing to pay for the privilege of owning the rarer examples - some in excess of £10,000. If you can't run to that kind of money, remember that Steiff produces goods other than teddy bears. There are the licenced figures such as the Wind in the Willows. If you want to make some quick money buy the bears limited to a country or place and sell them on the Internet - or just keep them - Steiff never goes out of fashion.

Guinness

When it comes to advertising, Guinness is well ahead of the rest. The famous brown stout has always had one of the best marketing plans in the business and their comic animals such as toucans are legendary. So much so that there are plenty of copies of Carlton Ware's best selling range about, but luckily bright colours and crude modelling gives them away. Look for prints as well as figures but be prepared to spend - Guinness offers one of the most collectable and pricey forms of advertising collectables around, but worth it.

Bunnykins

Royal Doulton's charismatic Bunnykins range was created by a nun, Barbara Vernon. The cheeky rabbits come in over 1,000 different patterns but all retain the cheery innocence which has made them such a classic. The most desirable pieces are the early figural rabbit teapot, jug and sugar - can can expect to pay up to £1,000 for the teapot alone. The figures are more affordable and sell for around £20. As they are mass produced you should stick to their limited editions. You should also look at the nursery ware - rare pieces such as The Christmas Menu can sell for around £200 for a bowl - it would have to be in top condition to make that price.

Joseff

Costume jewllery is a much under-rated collectable and it is still easy to pick up bargains at auctions and car boot sales. As it is a specialist market many dealers don't know what to spot. Among the top names is Joseff. Chances are that you have already seen and admired his work without knowing. He designed the jewellery for 90% of the films in 1930-1940s Hollywood, including Gone with the Wind. Stars such as Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers adored his jewellery and he produced a commercial range as well. It is notable for its 'old gold' look, specially designed to avoid glinting on camera. Not only a good investment, but lovely to wear as well.

Disney Sets

Walt Disney produced dozens of popular characters such as Mickey Mouse and Snow White and probably has the best and worst quality collectables. With this in mind, look at quality before buying anything. Snow White is a perennial favourite but some of the modern pieces can be bland in comparison to the 1930s examples. The 1930s Wade set with its almost soapy look is wonderful, but at around £2,500 a bit expensive. A good tip is to buy the figures individually and build up your set gradually - a much less expensive way. When it comes to Mickey, look for older pieces with rounder ears, they're more collectable than modern examples.

Egg Cups

Every antiques fair and centre will have an egg cup or two, that's why they make wonderful collectables. Many are be had for around £10 or less while the more attractive or novelty ones by makers such as Carlton Ware are only around £25. You can find hippos, elephants and even crocodiles. Egg cups are probably the most affordable way to start a collection.

Candle Snuffers

Bronte and Worcester Candlesnuffers were a good way of extinguishing candles without creating either smoke or sparks. Their everyday use meant that decorative versions appeared and they are still being produced, if not used. One of the best, relatively new makes is Bronte whose fabulous characters have included Alice in Wonderland and the Nutcracker Suite as well as the Owl and the Pussycat range. Buy pieces on the antiques circuit to make sure that you don't buy modern by mistake. The 1976 examples are a good investment, but prices are climbing fast.

Vestas

These are ideal for people without much room to spare - Vestas are matchboxes that were named after Vesta, the goddess of fire and hearth. They come in many different shapes from Lucifer to pianos and are made of silver and other metals and generally have a ridged area for striking the match. The good ones are more expensive and you can expect to pay around £400 for better examples such as a compact pack of cards or a gun. There are cheaper modern examples, but they are often crudely made with ill-fitting lids. You can date the silver Vestas by their hallmark and you should be able to get a decent one for around £150.