More Clinkies from Nancy Falzone

It was a good mail day yesterday - I received another box from Nancy Falzone! After I'd purchased the Metlox Clydesdale, she'd asked if I were looking for anything else. I mentioned a few things, and soon new models were on their way to my home. 

 When I opened the box and cleared the top layer of packing peanuts,

I found four individually wrapped packages. It felt like I was opening another BreyerFest surprise horse or grab bag!

Nancy's packing jobs are always first rate. Each piece is carefully wrapped in several layers of paper and bubble wrap.

Inside the first package was a Monrovia Hagen Renaker Scamper in matte palomino. ($50) (Photo by Nancy.)

 A Zebra of an unknown manufacturer was in the next one. (I have a guess, but want to confirm that after doing some research.) ($15)

An old Lefton Donkey (with the original label under his belly) was in the third. ($20) (Photo by Nancy.)

And last was this matte palomino Monrovia Roughneck.

Nancy included the card she used to document him - I am thrilled to have this piece of ephemera and to learn the history of the model. ($50)

But there was one more surprise in that box.

Nancy had popped in a little gift - a Christmas ornament!

I always enjoy getting new models. But when they come from a friend, especially a dear friend like Nancy, they are sweet reminders of that friendship. And when I look at them on my shelves, not only do I see the horse, but I see my friend, too.

Black Diamond #2

Today I popped into an antique shop and found a piece I already had - a Lefton Saddlebred! But he was in mint condition and, for $8, too nice and too inexpensive to be left behind.

 Lefton American Saddlebred, H1446, $8, 7/11/2018, Klassy Klutter, Lafayette, Indiana.

He is in mint condition and is lovely.

 It's a Lefton and its number is H1446

 And, it has its original Made in Japan sticker and 108 incised into its inner thigh.

 My original Black Diamond (who I got in the 1960s) is on the left.

 You can see subtle differences between the two.

 Mine is missing the H1 from its number, for one thing.

 It, too, has the 108 incised into its inner thigh.

 Its hooves are a bit lighter and it does not quite stand square.

 My original has a narrower, longer blaze and slightly different eyes.

 The newer Black Diamond has less striping in its mane.

Its tail has more white and that white color is brighter.

Black Diamond #2 will be offered for sale - I don't need two of them, and the original is one of my favorites and I would never replace it with another one. So why did I buy him? To get him into the hands of other collectors where he will be loved and appreciated.

Black Pintos!

Recently on the Clinky Connection Facebook page there was a discussion about a china foal I have had since childhood and named Diamond Dindy. 

(This is not my piece; this is the one being discussed on Clinky Connection.)

Folks began posting about theirs or their desire to have one and how they'd been looking for one. Seeing all those black pinto Japan chinas made me feel nostalgic (I am already VERY fond of the old Japan chinas!) and so I found a couple on MH$P, made offers, and added three to my herd.

Victoria Ceramics Glossy Black Pinto Trotting Pony, $12, 5/2014, Lynn Lindgren (has sticker on belly.)

Back side of previous piece.

Japan Black Pinto Head Up Trotting Horse, $23, 5/2014, Lynn Lindgren (partial sticker and red dot on belly)

Other side of previous piece.

Japan Black Pinto Walking Horse, $23, 5/2014, Janet Onderchanin, Detroit area, Michigan. (Possibly Lefton; N856 on left front hoof.)

Other side of previous piece.

Doggone Lucky!

I don't collect dogs, although I have a few in my collection (Jolly Cholly in regular and woodgrain, a couple of HRs, and some other Breyer dogs.)

Today I went antiquing, and I found dogs EVERYWHERE. All three shops I visited had an assortment (yet nothing noteworthy when it came to horses. Boo!!)

My jaw dropped when I saw this piece inside a locked case at Raven's Roost Antiques:

 A Hagen-Renaker Designer Workshop Butch!

Butch, 1957-1959, $26.50

 He has a signature of some kind, but I did not find that mark in either of my Hagen-Renaker books.

Fortunately for me, I have done a lot of looking through those books as I identify horses, so even though I am not up to snuff on HR dogs, I did recognize Butch when I saw it. I snapped that puppy (haha) right up!

This piece struck me as particularly nice:

 Lefton German Shepherd, $9.50

I wasn't sure what his make was until I flipped him over and saw this:

 I have at least one Lefton horse with a four digit id mark beginning with A, so I am assuming this piece, too, was made by Lefton.

This boxer came home with me as well. He's glossy and has the weight and heft of the German Shepherd.

German Shepherd, $7.50

 As you can see, he has no backstamp or identifying number on his belly.

 The tag on this Beagle caught my eye - I have had horses with stickers on their sides saying what breed they are, and original stickers can up the value of the piece.

Beagle with sticker, $7.50.

 The near side seems a bit off compared to the far side.

 Napcoware? Lefton? My guess is he is one or the other.

 His snout is a bit cartoonish.

I may go back and take a closer look at the other dogs that were there. There were many lovely pieces in mint condition, and I would love to bring them home and keep them that way!