Brass figurines, in particular, make such cute paperweights or knick-knacks. I have found elephants, cats, dolphins, and even kangaroos. Wooden-inlay art is perfect for a gallery wall.

From jewelry holders to raw materials for your next dazzlingly original art piece, there are plenty of ways to reuse those old thrift store statues.

It also welcomes the addition of figurines that bring good fortune, like a dragon, Mandarin ducks or an elephant. ... You can find them in a variety of materials, though brass is most popular.