The New Brownie

There was a surprise in store for me at last Saturday's Great Lakes Congress show and this one made the tears well up when I saw it.

Heather McCurdy called me over and handed me a bubble wrapped package. What was inside was  a total surprise. It was also very, very familiar.

An old Made in Japan china saddle horse with chain reins.

Heather explained that she had found it at an auction in a box with some other horses, and knowing my story, had snagged it for me. 

So what is the story?

 It can be found in Nancy Kelly's recent book, Exploring the Model Horse Hobby on page 60.

This is Brownie, the very first model horse I ever got, given to me by Santa in 1963 when I was six. I loved Brownie so much, and many childhood memories are wrapped around him. For example, I have a very vivid memory of holding him close while lying in bed while very, very ill with the measles. 

As you can see from the photo, living with me was hard on poor Brownie. My dad faithfully glued him for me every time I broke him. Decades later, I considered having him restored, but I decided that I liked him the way he was because the yellowed glue on the multiple breaks was a visible reminder of how much my father loved me.  I look at Brownie and I see my father's love.

Despite having chased after model horses for decades, never have I found another piece just like Brownie. Heather knew that he was incredibly special to me, so when she spied him in that box at the auction, she snagged him for me.

Brownie always has been and will forever will be a reminder of my dad's love. New Brownie is special, too, and is a reminder of the kindness and thoughtfulness of a dear friend.

Thanks, Heather. There are no words to express my gratitude.

Japan Thoroughbred/Riding Pony

I saw this piece last week at Sell It Here in Lafayette. Although it has a break on its hind leg, for $3 I felt it should be rescued. And, it bears a close resemblance to my very first piece, Brownie.

 Japan Thoroughbred, $3, Sell It Here, Lafayette, Indiana, 6/2014.

 You can see the break on the hind leg in this photo.

I found some similar Japans on Karen Grimm's Black Horse Ranch Model Museum. Unfortunately, she died of breast cancer a couple of years ago, so I cannot email her and get her opinion on my new piece.

 She calls this "Clover Riding Pony."

And then she had my beloved Brownie in her collection, too.

She calls it "Clover Riding Pony - Small."

Since my new horse has a numbered blanket on, I will keep calling it a Thoroughbred. No clover mark, but he does have the number 24 carved in his inner upper right thigh. Since it's been painted, I am certain it was put there when he was created.

The Model That Started It All

This is Brownie, the model that started my collection. Santa brought him to me as a Christmas gift in 1963. I was just six years old.

Brownie is an ordinary Japan china - not valuable in the least if you think dollars, but incredibly special to me. He was played with constantly, and I even have memories of being very, very ill and in bed with Brownie by my side to keep me company.

You can see how well-loved he is - his ears are broken, there's a chip on his nose, and his legs have all been broken at least once. But as I said,  Brownie is VERY special to me, and so he gets to reside in my china hutch where my very best chinas and porcelains are displayed.

Thank you, Santa!