Nancy Falzone

This is what a good friend does for you when she has a piece you've asked about purchasing:

Hi Lynn

Good to hear from you again on this windy cool day here.  I dread the thought of winter, but that gets us closer to Breyerfest, right?

I would be happy to take time payments for my Zara, you can go longer if you like.  I will say there is a beautiful Zara on eBay for much less money (& one for more money) if that is an option.  It does have a break & chipped ear  though.  You are a friend & I just wanted to let you know that.  I would be very pleased if mine went into your collection however. 

I have had the best collecting week that I have had in a long time.  I got a very nice palomino Peggy Lou.  It has wonderful coloring & chiseling & a nice eye on the near side.  I was very pleased.  I was also surprised that Peggy is a "boy".  The second horse is a buckskin Monrovia Daisy with original sticker.  She is beautiful too!  She completed my set, now I have all three.  Took me all these years to find these two horses.

Scarlett arrives next week.  I will send you a picture of her in a separate email so you can see what the finished product looks like.  I simply cannot believe my good luck in these three great horses, I won't need another horse for quite awhile. :-)

Have a nice weekend.

Nancy 

Thanks, Nancy. I'll still buy yours. I know it is of the highest quality; better yet, it is a piece from a dear friend's collection.

New Clearware

I am getting hooked on Breyer's clearware! I have not yet splurged on pieces listed for sale on MH$P (Model Horse Sales Pages) but I have done some searches and looked to see what is out there that I don't yet have!

This week I ordered the 2012 Breast Cancer Awareness model ($38, the traditional sized one.)

I am not overly fond of the pink color or the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon symbols, but  the model is beautiful nonetheless. (This photo does not do it justice.)

I have the other traditional sized Breast Cancer one from 2011, the Breast Cancer stablemate from this year, Under the Sea (BreyerFest), and Carnivale (BreyerFest.) I also have the clear sparkly Stablemate pony keychain from BreyerFest and maybe some other keychains in clearware - will have to check as they're boxed up and in the horse room closet.

I hope Breyer makes some more clearware, especially in a color other than pink.

Harlequin - #4 Vintage Collectors Club

Breyer has announced the fourth (and last of the 2012) Vintage Collectors Club piece:

Harlequin!

He's the old Proud Arab Stallion in glossy Appaloosa. Gosh, is it beautiful. (I almost didn't join this club. It is limited to 500 members, and I am member 479. Sure am glad I changed my mind!)

Breyer History Diva had some comments to make about him. But I disagree with her on one point. Here's what she says:

(from Breyer History Diva, September 20, 2012)

Well, at least I was somewhere in the ballpark: the fourth Vintage Club release is a Proud Arabian Stallion in Gloss Gray Appaloosa, named Harlequin.

Not exactly what I was expecting, but still cool. And it does look like they absolutely nailed the color this time, with darker gray (not black) legs, and black hooves. The smaller, finer spotting the earliest Gray Appaloosas were known for is also present, a nicely observed point. I don’t have either of the Old Molds (ha!) but I do have a Fighting Stallion of the same vintage with those same sort of spots:

Isn’t he neat? Most Gray Appaloosa Fighters have bigger, sparser and more random spotting patterns, so when of my roommates at an earlier BreyerFest pulled him out of her sales stash, I just had to snag him. He was a little bit pricey (back when) but I thought then - and still do - that he was worth the splurge.

You see a lot of variation on that release’s paint job, but the fine speckling is definitely on the scarcer side. It’s not something you even see in any of the earliest Breyer ephemera, either, including the 1961 insert pages.

They did get one little detail on Harlequin wrong, though: he has eyewhites, and most Gray Appaloosas back then didn’t. They do show up from time to time - I’ve seen a couple of the Appaloosa Mustangs sporting ‘em - but it’s very unusual, and the prices I’ve seen on those pieces tend to reflect that.

She talks about the piece having darker, not black legs, and she is referring to this same color across molds. So, I got mine out to examine them, and I have a different take on the leg color.

 My fighting stallion (it used to belong to my sister, Leslie, but she gave it to me in the late 1980s/early1990s) has mixed-sized spots and definitely black legs.

 So does my Family Arab Stallion (Sue Seese's venerable Apache Dancer! She sent him to me in the 1990s as a gift.) Clearly, those lower legs are black, not grey as Breyer History Diva calls them.

The Semi-Rearing Mustang came with white points, not black (or grey) ones. I love this piece.

Usually Breyer History Diva knows her stuff, and although she writes in a very self-absorbed manner, it is worth reading through that to get the salient, reliable hobby information. So, based on that,  I am wondering if my pieces might be variations.

Cantering Welsh Pony

Breyer's Cantering Welsh Pony was hugely popular when introduced in the 1970s, but I didn't get one until the later 1980s. The CWP sold well and showed well, too.

I only have four now, and one of my "model regrets" is selling my most valuable CWP, the Small World special run with gold braids. I got it through my friend, Beth Dickinson,  and sold it years later as I needed the shelf space and my family needed the cash. Since I'd said I would sell models if need be, I needed to put my money where my mouth was, and so I did. (I got over $100 for her if I remember right.)

Breyer History Diva wrote about this mold on her blog this week, and I am cutting and pasting part of that post to document the information.

From Breyer History Diva, September 14, 2012

One of my newer additions here - part of my latest box lot purchase - is this pretty solid-faced variation of the #105 Chestnut Cantering Welsh Pony:

Even though I seem to have an insanely large number of Cantering Welshies, this is the first solid-faced Chestnut I’ve had the pleasure of owning. 

I don’t know why I didn’t see the need for having one before; I remember being very, very obsessed with getting the original bald-faced version of the Chestnut when it was discontinued in 1976. That was a couple of years before I became involved in the hobby, and the only way I could obtain such a rare and valuable creature was to harass my parents into dragging me to every toy store within a reasonable driving distance to our house.

(FYI: Mission accomplished.) 

In 1979 Breyer brought her back, "by popular demand". It wasn’t all that unusual a maneuver in the 1970s; the scuttlebutt I heard was that it was done, primarily, to get rid of warehouse backstock. If the initial sales were good enough, they would put the item back into full production.

Such was the case with the Cantering Welsh: not only are most of the later pieces painted differently than the earlier ones - with solid faces and no ribbons - they also sport the "B" mold mark, common on molds from the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

The solid-faced Cantering Welsh Ponies are somewhat less common than the bald-faced ones: the bald-faced pieces were available from 1971 through 1976, while the solid-faced ones were available from 1979 through 1981. There’s not a huge difference in the price between the two of them, though, since the demand for the mold isn’t what it used to be.

Translucent Models

I find I am really liking Breyer's clear, translucent models. I rarely buy models from the Stablemate line, but I had to have this one sculpted by Kathleen Moody and done in pink translucent plastic with the breast cancer awareness symbol on it. It's so pretty!

 I debated saving the box it came in as it's very unusual, especially for a Stablemate.

I may kick myself later, but I recycled the box. I sure love the translucents! I think I have five in my collection now.

Translucent Breast Cancer Awareness Stablemate ($6).

Breyer Blossom

Breyer has some new classic-sized models and is currently doing a series with them called Blossoms. Some of the molds are the new ones; others are the old-style classics (most of those are ick!!) There are twelve in the series, and they have a "flower of the month" motif.

Unrealistically colored horses with flowers sprinkled on their backsides? Not my style. But... I do like the August one with poppies. It has that gorgeous root beer coloring Breyer occasionally puts on a model, and poppies make me think of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and students who love books. It's on a new mold (which I like), and it's my birth month.

So... I took the plunge.

I'm not overly fond of the red mane and tail, but the rest of the color and detail is nice (a glossy and eyewhites!) so I am pleased. ($25)

What to Do with Ribbons?

From the blog, Riding Aside. Some terrific ideas!!

What to Do with Show Ribbons

From the blog, Riding Aside. Great ideas! I have some ribbons I won with Amy and Cee, and tons of ribbons from model shows. Maybe I'll try one of these ideas.

What To Do With All of Those Ribbons...

Now, I am not one who is drowning in show ribbons... especailly not the coveted blue and red ones... but for those who are.. or even for the show barn owners - you might just find an idea that you could use right here.

For your enjoyment - here we go:

A ribbon wreath - as long as it is done up well, it is attractive.  I have seen some not so nice ones though.

I love these frames - but to make them interesting - they need to include more than just ribbons - photos, show programs or pins are nice details

This is seriously cool!

Love this elegant idea with a Christmas decor twist.

 Never thought of putting the shadow frames in the barn. but why not!

Great desk decor!.. especially the desk in the barn office.

Now, I have seen many a show ribbon quilts and pillows...and most of them look like.. well don't get mad at me for saying this .. but most of them look like ribbon vomit!

BUT - when I saw this pillow... I had to save the photo to share with you.  This looks like a designer piece to me!

Anyone else have another idea for show ribbons?

Hartland Score!

In August, Gail Fitch published a new book about Hartland horses that have been manufactured since 2000. When she was writing it, she contacted me because I have a really rare piece in my collection. I took a picture of it for her and she published it in the book with my permission.

Of course, I bought a copy of her book (autographed!) and have been reading through it, learning more about the Hartland horses and their history. I have had a few Hartlands since my earliest hobby days, but have always preferred Breyers. (For perspective, I have 40 Hartlands versus 400+ Breyers and about 80-100 Hagen Renakers.)

I was intrigued to discover that, although the factory had gone out of business about eight years ago, there was a dealer, Sheryl Leisure of Horse Power graphics, who still had a few in stock and for sale. Needless to say, I checked out her website and ordered a couple.

 I got a Dale Evans with her horse, Buttermilk and dog, Bullet ($40, #802, on left) and Roy Rogers with his horse, Trigger ($40, #806). A note on the packing slip says their manufacture dates are 2003.

(As a side note, I had a bouncing rocking horse as a child which I rode ALL the time. Its name was Buttermilk after Dale's horse.)

In addition to satisfying my cowgirl side with Dale and Roy, I also got this elegant set of Tennessee Walkers.

Amber Champagne Tennessee Walking Horse 3 piece set ($25).

Hartland score!!

Recent Acquisitions

I intended to document the growth and worth of my collection as one of the reasons I began this blog, so it might be a good idea to post information about my recent acquisitions!

From BreyerFest, 2012:

 A woodgrain Jolly Cholly!

 I bought this piece from Terry Richards, of Rockford, Illinois. She's an old hobby buddy from when I lived in Illinois and was putting on my live show, Lincoln Land Live. ($35)

Terry was one of the people asked to evaluate and dispose of Marney Walerius' vast collection when she died. Having known Marney, I jumped at the chance to get a piece from her collection.

 This Lady Phase is an oldie but goodie, and all the more special because it belonged to Marney. ($15)

Folks who bought single-day tickets to BreyerFest got a special Stablemate as part of their ticket deal.

 I am not a collector of stablemates, but the quality on this one is very high. Plus, my friend, Kathleen Moody, sculpted it. I love having a personal connection to my pieces. (Ticket price $20)

I also bought some models from my favorite dealer, Lynn Luther. She owns The Model Trading Post and has been in business since 1991.

 Year of the Dragon (porcelain) ($60)

 Champion Sprinkles 5 Gaiter ($34)

And, from the Breyer website because they can only be bought from the factory, I purchased this crystal mini Huckleberry Bey (sculpted by Kathleen.) ($45)

 It comes in its own padded box, and for the moment I am keeping it in that for safekeeping.

It's a beautiful piece, but very, very fragile, and I think the glue would show should I break it and try to repair it.

Yellow Mount

Here is a picture of my Yellow Mount. I got it in the early 1970s and it is most likely a chalky:

Breyer History Diva did a blog post about this piece, and she wrote some interesting things that had me checking my piece.

 Mine does not have the blue ribbon sticker  or the dorsal stripe, but it does have the forearm spot and pink/red hooves. As I recall, I got it shortly after Breyer began producing it, if not the year of.


(From Breyer History Diva, September, 2012)

The earliest variation, with the blue ribbon sticker, dorsal stripe, and pinkish hooves would be ideal, of course, but they’re way more difficult to come by than the early Man o’ Wars. It’s been years since I’ve seen one like that up for sale, and the price it went for was definitely not to my liking.

I’d settle for a Presentation Series piece, or a nice Chalky, or even a late example with no forearm spot and dark greyish hooves. 

As I noted above, the earliest Yellow Mounts had dorsal stripes - a subtle acknowledgement of the fact that the real Yellow Mount was actually Red Dun, not Chestnut. Breyer called him a "Chestnut Paint’ right from the get go, though. From the 1970 Collector’s Manual, the year he debuted:

I don’t know if this was a simple mistake, or if Breyer "simplified" the color for the general market. Yeah, the really horse-crazy kids would know what a Red Dun is, but an average consumer has a hard enough time telling a Bay from a Chestnut. It had only been a couple years earlier that Breyer itself had even figured out the difference!

It’s not that big a deal nowadays - in fact, trying to upsell an older mold with an exotic color is all the rage these days. (Remember the "Silver Dapple Dilute Dun" on a more recent release of the Adios, Frappe? Of course you do!)

The Yellow Mount lost his dorsal stripe early on - like so many other early decorating changes, a matter of cost.