Jolly Cholly Insurance Dog

Yesterday, Lisa and I trekked down to Lebanon to the Countryside Antique Mall on 52.  They had several Breyers, including one I had heard about but never seen - the Jolly Cholly Insurance Promo. I brought it home with me.

 Breyer Jolly Cholly, #326, 1968/69--1985, Countryside Antique Mall, Lebanon, Indiana, $14

It's an interesting piece - one that has made many hobbyists scratch their heads as they tried to document him. Currently, it is not considered an OF Breyer in this state. Most seem to believe the chain and sign were added by a company using the pieces as a promotional.

Nancy Atkinson Young writes in her book, Breyer Molds and Models 1995, 4th Edition 1997, p. 266:

"A number of collectors have found #326s with an unusual feature: a chain entwined through four holes drilled into the neck, with a brown plastic card hanging from the chain. The cards have white lettering, which most commonly says "American Interinsurance Exchange." However, collector Sande Schneider found one that says "American Interstate Insurance Corporation of Wisconsin," and collector Mary Margaret Fox has one that says, "American Underwriters Group." The chain is of a different type from that used for Breyer horse reins or the Boxer's collar, and evidently Breyer did not supply it or the plastic cards. Collector Thea Ryan, who found one of the the "American Interinsurance Exchange" models at a flea market, notes that the reverse side of the card is printed with the name and address of Hoosier Badge and Trophies, Inc. in Indianapolis. Thea wrote to the trophy company and received a reply in June, 1992. The trophy company said they had made the cards for the insurance company at least nine years before - that would be 1983, which is consistent with the fact that these dogs have "U.S.A." stamps, dating them to no earlier than 1970. The trophy company did not have details but thought the insurance company had used the dogs as promotional items. In any case, the fact that the insurance company had the cards made indicates that Breyer had nothing to do with the creation of these insurance Chollys beyond manufacturing the basic models from which they are made."

Note: my piece does NOT have the name and address of Hoosier Badge and Trophies, Inc. printed on it. It is blank.

Lucy - Vintage Collectors' Club

Lucy is an offer to Vintage Collectors' Club members only, not one of the four models you receive when you sign up for the club. She arrived today, and I am thrilled!

 Lucy, #712078, $69, Vintage Collectors' Club members special offer, 2013

I love my membership in the Vintage Collectors' Club - the models have been old favorites in vintage colors.

Craig Listens Well

Craig and I spent yesterday and today in Shipshewana, Indiana for some CES meetings. We were out shopping this morning and Craig spied this sign:

He said, "That reminds me of your collection. Oozies, and shrinkies, and chalkies, and pearlies, oh my!"

I had to laugh - this summer I have been dusting and cataloging my collection. Obviously he has been listening to me chatter about what I have on my shelves!

I knew I had one shrinky, but discovered a few more. I have a fair number of chalkies, and just a couple of pearlies. I have only one possible oozie (thank goodness for that!) and it is safely away from the herd and in a box in the closet. That way, if it begins leaking, it won't damage the other pieces or my shelves.

Good to know he listens to me, even when he would probably prefer not to!

Woodgrain Family Arab Foal

Craig and I were in Shipshewana, Indiana (home of the Peter Stone factory and the third largest Amish population in the country) so I was hopeful I would find some HSOs as we shopped. We did! I found this Family Arab Foal in woodgrain:

 Family Arab Foal, woodgrain, #909, 1961-1963 (?), Shipshewana antique mall, $19, June, 2013.

I left behind what was probably a chalky Foundation Stallion but I have trouble identifying the basecoat chalkys. However,  Craig commented  that the piece looked odd, so you know it most likely was a chalky it if it was so obvious to someone who does not even know what a chalky is!

Semi-Rearing Mustang - Nuances

Breyer History Diva wrote a bit about how to tell the age of a buckskin Semi-Rearing Mustang, one of my most favoritemolds.

From Breyer History Diva, June, 2013

I was just thinking about that myself - there's a lot of variation in the Buckskin Mustang, which isn't surprising, since it was made for almost forever (by today's standards!)

I haven't codified all of the nuances, but here are a few:

The easiest way to tell is to check for a USA mark. No USA = prior to 1970. Nubbed/trimmed front hooves are also an indication of age, though I'm not sure when that practice was discontinued.

The very earliest ones have painted eyewhites. Those are pretty hard to come by, though. (And if you find one, snag it!)

Earlier Mustangs tended to have more greyish legs than later ones, contrasted by their black hooves. It wasn't until near the end of the run that the legs were painted true black.

Dorsal stripes are another indicator of age; again, I'm not entirely sure when they stopped putting them on - early 1970s, I believe.

Earlier Mustangs also have either neatly airbrushed or masked manes; again, it's hard to date precisely. My super-early one with eyewhites has a neatly-airbrushed mane, but a mid-1970s one I just picked up recently was masked.

Brenda Breyer Gift Set

Another piece she had came with the original 1980s box!

Brenda Breyer Gift Set, #3095, 1980 - 1985, $25, Kim Myers, Decatur, Indiana

Cream of Tartar

Tina Dils, a fellow hobbyist, just started a collecting blog. There are a LOT of artists' blogs for remaking, sculpting, and painting, but not too many for those of us who simply like to collect. It's a new blog, but her third post helped me add two nice vintage pieces to my collection!

Tina suggested that collectors look on Craigslist as well as some other places for pieces. I had looked there before without success, but thought I would give it a whirl again. And this time, I found a woman, Kim Myer, in Decatur, Indiana, who was selling her entire collection.

Better yet, she was a collector, so her pieces were good ones. Even better? Her prices were reasonable and in-line with today's market (Breyer values have been low since the economy tanked in 2009.)

I contacted Kim and bought two pieces form her. The first is one I have wanted for years: Cream of Tartar.

 Cream of Tartar, #700196, SR 1996, Breyer Show Special, $25, Kim Myers, Dectaur, Indiana

Hartland Seabiscuit

This is a very ugly piece but I am excited to add it to my collection. Why? Because it is also a very unusual and hard to find Hartland piece.

 Seabiscuit, 140929191220, Resin Legacy Model, 6/10/13, $6.00, eBay, Lost Treasures Inc.

 I will be keeping it in its box...

 ... which will help with documentation.

HR Specialty Dressage Horse and Rider

I got this piece from Gerry Bowman's Little Shoppe.

 #4002 Dressage Horse with Rider, $50.00

Breyer Mesteno's Mother

Another find from the Romney Toy Shop!

 #751103, Spirit Kiger Mustang (Walmart), $8, Romney Toy Shop.

Hartland Tinymite Arabian

I had this piece as a child, but it disappeared as time passed. (It may still be tucked in some boxes in my office closet. Who knows?) I found an orangey replacement one a few years ago, but it wasn't the same. So, when I saw this one at the Romney Toy Shop yesterday, I snagged it. (It wasn't even on the sales floor yet - she'd just gotten it in!)

 Hartland Tinymite Arabian, $1, Romney Toy Shop

It's not mint and has either a tiny eartip rub or chip, but still I am glad to have it. I love the color.

Breyer SM Scratching Foal

I found this little baby for $0.25 at the Romney Toy Shop. I was rummaging through a small tub of small farm animals, and there it was. Not bad for a quarter!

 Breyer SM Scratching Foal, $0.25, Palomino, #5982.

Breyer Shetland Pony

I found this piece in Romney at the Romney Toy Shop. I left it behind the first time I saw it, and then purchased it when I went back with JC and Trinity so that they could get Braden, Addie, and Corinne some things. (Out of their own money, no less!) It is a nice piece, albeit dirty, and I figured I could clean it up and sell it.

 Breyer Shetland Pony, #25, glossy alabaster, $9, Romney Toy Shop.

Hagen Renaker Retro

I have loved the piece, Retro, that Hagen Renaker re-iussed a few years ago, but the cost ($120) for the size (Stablemate) was too much, in my opinion. So, when I saw one on eBay for $59, I bought it, even though $50 is generally my limit for a SM sized piece.

It arrived today, and I was surprised to discover it was larger than SM -  a bit bigger than a Little Bit but not quite Classic sized. In fact, I am thrilled at my new piece!

 Retro (re-issue, 2006, #114), $59, eBay/Debra Kerr.

Organizing the Minis

My Hagen Renaker minis have been packed away since we move here in 2006. Along with my "original herd" chinas and some other pieces, they have been sitting in boxes in my office closet. I sold the china hutch they were in when we moved and just did not have a place to put them.

I had been toying with getting some new shelves when I saw an eight shelf CD/DVD holder for sale at Walmart and got an idea. The smaller shelves would be perfect for my minis, take less space, and should hold what I had tucked away.

And I was right - except that it took two shelves, not one.

I am about out of wall space in my office, so I had to block the windows a bit. But since these shelves are not even five feet tall, they leave the upper half of the windows clear so light can get in.

Here's how they look next to the shelves that my traditional sized Breyers are kept. I am really happy with how this turned out.

Staffordshire Drafter

Staffordshire made some china and porcelain pieces back in the late nineteenth century. They're not my cuppa tea, but they are considered valuable and highly collectible.

Apparently there is a company in Great Britain that does reproductions. Or did - judging from the piece I found at Raven's Roost Antiques, it was made in the 1950s or 1960s. (I've tried but been unable to find out anything about the company.)

 Staffordshire Reproductions England drafter with harness, $9.50, 5/31/13, Raven's Roost Antiques.

 I'd love to take the harness off, but that would lessen any value the piece has, so it's staying on.

Using my Breyer Misty for scale.

Glossy Charcoal Fighting Stallion

I picked up this beauty at Devine Antiques yesterday for $54. Definitely worth the price!

 Glossy Charcoal Fighting Stallion, 1961-1963, $54

 You can't see it in the pictures, but it has footpad remnants (on the tail, too.)

I already had the piece, but the new one was such a good piece, I figured I could sell it or, if it was nicer than the one I already had, keep it as an upgrade and sell my old one. My first one is on the right and is much darker.

I think I will keep them both.

Metlox Poppytrail or Lane Piece

Friday I found this piece at Devine Antiques in Lafayette.

 Metlox Poppytrail or Lane ceramic, $9.95. Devine Antiques, Lafayette, Indiana.

 He's big and he's heavy. This is Breyer's Misty to give perspective.

 The flip side.

The piece is obviously old as the glaze has crazing.

I've asked for some help identifying it via the Breakables group on Yahoo, and so far two hobby experts have weighed in:

I believe it is a Lane horse, but I think Metlox also made a similar horse. I have seen both on eBay before.
-- Diana Dubbeld

Yes, it appears to perhaps be a copy of the Metlox "Morgan" -- similar but not the same.
-- Sue Stewart