2015 Horse Tree

Not only do I have a horsehead wreath on my front door, I also have a horsey ornament tree!

I debated putting it out - only one of our six children will be here for the holidays, so our celebration will be on a much smaller scale. On the other hand, with no grandchildren dancing about with sugarplums on their minds, I can put some breakables out and not worry.

I still have a crate of horsey ornaments that I left in the closet, and I am hoping to find the Breyer American Pharaoh ornament under my Christmas tree December 25.

I need a bigger ornament tree for 2016!

My Purdy Custom

I don't collect customs, although I do have three early 70s ones (Pace's Hi Hopes, Scojeadon (I think that's its name), and Midwest Tumbleweed.)I also have this guy:

 Champaign Toast made by Tiffany Conwell (Purdy) in 1995.

 She brought him to Lincoln Land Live and I fell in love with him!

By today's standards for customizing, he's average, but back then, he was dynamite!

I cleaned my hobby closet out over Fall Break and found him. I am downsizing my collection (well, in SOME ways I am... haha!) and I decided to send him to my friend, Jennifer Buxton, Tiffany's best friend. She's also the one who made my the miniature halter with Abby's name on it as well as a set of sleigh bells that are my real ones only downsized for model horses.

Jennifer was thrilled. Here's her blog post about it.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Pre-Purdy

In my heart of hearts, I secretly believe that all the Purdy horses should belong to me. 

Today, I came one step closer to that goal, except my newest Purdy pony is so old he predates the Purdy name!

Meet Champagne Toast. He was a surprise gift from Lynn Isenbarger.

The note accompanying tells his story: When Craig was teaching at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, I held three live shows, Lincoln Land I, II and III in the early 1990's. Entries were arriving for Lincoln Land II when I got a call from a girl named Tiffany. She asked about model showing and said she was interested in attending a show and seeing what it was all about. I invited her to come join us, and she did.

It may have been her first live show, but she had wonderful entries! Her packing boxes were neat, too; I still remember a round, pink box with leopard print. Tiffany attended both Lincoln Land II and III, bringing this horse to Lincoln Land III. I fell in love with him, and ended up purchasing him. 

I am in the process of downsizing and, aside from this TWH and a few 1970's pieces from Sherry Cook, I really don't collect customs. I spent some time thinking about who might appreciate him, and you came to mind. Please feel free to what you want with him--keep him, pass him on, etc. Regardless, I hope he brings a smile to your face.
Thank you so much, Lynn. I love my new pre-Purdy pony. He definitely won't be passed along!

Freeman Leidy Circus Pony

I have watched this piece on eBay for months. It's been relisted for $40.24 several times; finally, the seller put a Buy It Now on it, and I submitted a lowball bid of $25. To my surprise, it was accepted without quibble.

(Pictures from eBay listing.)

 Freeman Leidy Circus Pony, $25, Barbara Harger, Estacada, Oregon, 10/2015

 It is far bigger than I anticipated; about the same size as a Breyer.

I am trying to find out more about the Freeman Leidy company. I have seen it called one of the California Potteries, and associated with the town of Laguna Beach. Another eBay listing for this piece dates it from 1944-1955.

I have also heard that there are three different circus ponies and a wagon for the set.

 Ed Alcorn has had these listed on eBay for over a year. He wants $250 for the pair!!

 An image pulled from Google Images shows a purple version with green ribbons.

Another picture from eBay shows the circus wagon that goes to the set.

I'd love to have all the pieces, but I'm a $25 sort of girl! We'll see.

Walking Black Angus Bull

Another find at Sell It Here in Lafayette. (That place has proven to be a gold mine!)

 Breyer Walking Black Angus Bull with chocolate halter, #72, 1959/60-1973, 1976-1977, $18, Sell It Here, Lafayette, Indiana, 10/26/15.

This mold was never given the Breyer stamp but post-1970 pieces have a USA mark. Mine does not have that, so he was manufactured before 1970.

He's so dark, I almost walked right past him! I was looking for a Japan china horse that has been at the store for ages, but it was gone. As I scanned the booth for it, I happened to spy this guy. Lucky me!

Little Debbie and Oatmeal Creme

It's a good thing those Breyer boxes are such a bright shade of yellow. Otherwise, I would've walked right past one of today's finds at Sell It Here.

 Little Debbie and Oatmeal Creme, #701806, 2005, $16, Sell It Here, Lafayette, Indiana, 10/26/15.

 The doll and horse (a Breyer Dapples, one of Kathleen Moody's sculpts) are still affixed to the box.

I was a little surprised to find the box with the doll and rider. It's fairly beat up, but it's still intact and not torn.

I don't collect Dapples, but this was a set that probably ought to be in a collector's hands, so I will put it up for sale on either MH$P or eBay.

Vintage Collectors Club 2016

Sometimes I shiver that I almost missed joining the Vintage Collectors Club when it was first offered in 2011. I hesitated over cost; $125 per model isn't cheap.

But, I prefer the vintage pieces and buy very few of the new Breyers as a result. I spend any spare time poking through antique and second hand shops, looking for oldies to add to my collection. (And Lafayette has proven to be a jackpot for them!)

So, I waited until the window to join was almost closed, and then decided it would be worth my while to become a member. I just made it - I am #479 of 500!

And I have not regretted it. Yes, there have been a piece or two I haven't especially liked (Coral and Reef come to mind) over the four years the club has been in existence, but they are still vintage colors on vintage molds and I am happy to have them.

Breyer just released its offerings for the 2016 club by posting this picture in JAH.

Oh, drool! An appaloosa Man O'War! Dapple grey Western Prancer!! Red roan Lady Phase and Action Stock Horse Foal! Three different colors on the Cantering Welsh Pony!

Needless to say, I renewed my membership in the club.

Farah - Vintage Collectors Club

The fourth offering in Breyer's Vintage Collectors Club arrived! Her name is Farah, and she is the Proud Arab Mare with Yellow Mount's pattern done in palomino.

 Farah, VCC #4 for 2015, #712144, $127, 10/2015.

Breyer advertised her as a chalky, but most hobbyists agree that she is not. Some are angry about that, and are complaining about the creamy colored plastic, too. I love her, and prefer a creamy plastic to stark white.

Abby's Nameplate Halter

Jennifer Buxton writes a very popular blog about her life as a miniature tack maker/real horsewoman which is read by people all over the world, myself included. Recently she took orders for miniature nameplate halters, and I ordered one with Abby's name on it.

Several days later, Jennifer posted a picture of the halters - they looked so wonderful, I could hardly wait to see mine in person!

Photo by Jennifer Buxton; used with permission.

Abby's is the one  on the bottom left.

Last week she did a blog article on Abby and the halter. She's given me permission to repost it here.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

Abby's halter

I make model horse tack, but occasionally I get an order that has more to do with real, live, breathing horses than their plastic counterparts. This was the case with Abby's halter.

 Abby is a chestnut Appaloosa mare owned by Lynn Isenbarger.

She was a rescue, one of a group of  nineteen neglected and abused horses that were taken in by Indiana Horse Rescue in 2011. When Lynn adopted her, she had a badly slippered front hoof and limped for more than a year.

Lynn writes: My son called as I was hauling Abby home in April, 2012 His wife was in labor and later that morning gave birth to our granddaughter, Corinne. Corinne loves the fact that she was born on Abby's "birthday" and calls Abby her "tins hoss" (twin horse.) Makes me smile. 

Granted, I am hugely biased in favor of chestnut varnish Appaloosa mares and all animals name Abby/Abbie, but that makes me smile, too. I am happy every time Lynn posts a picture of Abby on her blog or Facebook page. She is one of my favorite "cyber horses."

Thank you for your order, Lynn. I hope you and your beautiful girl enjoy the halter!

Thanks, Jennifer, not only for the halter but for featuring my sweet girl in your blog!

Hagen Renaker Rocking Horses

Claudia Segger on the Facebook Hagen Renaker Collector's page posted this picture and information:

I believe the most common rocking horses are adult with red rockers and baby with blue. The horses with black spots may be old tests or one-of-a-kind pieces. The unicorn foal is a bone china copy; how fun is that!

Here is a picture of mine:

Right away I notice that mine do not have the black socks hers do.

Jingles/Family Arab Stallion (Leslie's)

Leslie's favorite model, Jingles. Has a stain from the rubber band halters we used to put on our models.

 Prince/Family Arabian Stallion, #7, glossy alabaster, 1958 - 1966, from Leslie's childhood collection.

Quarter Horse Yearling (Jenny's)

From Jenny's childhood collection (the only one of hers that I have). Its coat has a subtle reddish cast that can be seen when mine is next to hers. Unlike mine, it is not a basecoat chalky.

 Quarter Horse Yearling, #101, liver chestnut, 1970 - 1980 (very early piece with only the round Breyer Molding Company stamp.)

Man O' War (Leslie's)

Leslie's Man O' War (and in beautiful shape!)

 Man O' War, #47, 1967 - 1995, early piece as only as round Breyer Molding Company stamp, Leslie's childhood collection.

Proud Arabian Stallion (Leslie's)

This piece has mold/mildew spots, but I currently have it in a sunny window and hope that will take care of that. Another piece that belonged to Leslie, although I do not think I ever had it in my collection prior to this.

 Proud Arabian Stallion, #211, 1971 - 1976/1978 - 1981. with mane and tail stripes. I am sure this piece was produced and in Leslie's collection before 1976.

Western Prancer (Leslie's)

Another from Leslie. I think I had this one, too, and returned it in 1998 for unknown reasons. Saddle is missing, but if I remember right, I have one tucked away in a box in my closet. It may belong to this piece.

 Cheyenne/Western Prancing Horse, #110, 1963 - 1986. From Leslie's childhood collection.

 Notice the drainboard pattern on the bottom of his hooves and the belly drip and raised foreleg drip.

Smoke Running Mare (Leslie's)

From my sister's childhood collection. She gave me this piece years ago but for some reason, I took it back to our parents' home in 1998 (judging by the newspaper it was wrapped in.)

 Sugar/Running Mare, #121, 1961/63 - 1970, smoke.

Woodgrain Bloodhound #2

In addition to the Mortens Dalmatian that I found at Sell It Here yesterday, I also found my second woodgrain Breyer Bloodhound. And he was a bargain price, too!

 Breyer Woodgrain Bloodhound, #325, 1966 - 1968, $5, Sell It Here, Lafayette, Indiana

Art Nouveau

There was only one model I wanted from BreyerFest this year. I prefer vintage, traditional-sized molds, but I also love the clearware/translucent pieces. This isn't a vintage or a traditional mold, but it is a translucent and absolutely lovely!

 Art Nouveau, #711233, 500 made, BreyerFest SR 2015, $53.50, Alyssa Shoemaker, York, PA, 7/2015.

Monrovia HR Mini Set

This is not actually the set as sold by Hagen Renaker, but Teresa Rogers sold them together as a set on Clinky Classifieds. She wanted $35 for all three; I snapped those puppies up! I was lucky to be online when she posted them as at least three people posted after me wanting to buy them.

(These pictures were all taken by Teresa.)

 Look at the detail in the coloring and glazing!

 They're really beautiful - I love the old Hagen Renakers, just as I love the old Breyers.

 Monrovia Mini Rearing Horse, A-234, 1953 - 1985, $35/set, 7/2015, Teresa Rogers, California.

 Since they are from the Monrovia era of the company, that means these pieces were produced prior to 1962. (The dates on their tags and these pictures are for how long the mold has been in production.)

 Monrovia Mini Running Mare, A-233, 1954 - current, $35/set, 7/2015, Teresa Rogers, California.

 The shading in her glaze is so pretty!

 Monrovia Mini Foal, A-236, 1953 - 1985, $35/set, 7/2015, Teresa Rogers.

Super excited to add these three pieces to my collection!