A Case for Bridle Rosettes

Ever since I began collecting bridle rosettes, I have been looking for a way to display them. Shadow boxes didn't work well - the rosettes have a raised bar on the back so that they can be used on a bridle, and that made them roll around in the little cubbies.

Sorry for the photo quality - the sun isn't up yet as I write and there is glass in the cover of the box.

That bar on the back made it so that anything I tried for displaying them simply didn't work. Finally, I just put my rosettes into a box and set them on the shelf. I was resigned that I was going to have to have to go down to the frame shop and see what they could figure out.

Then, a friend posted on social media that she had bought a ring case to display her horsey jewelry and rings. Since I have a lot of horsey jewelry, I clicked on her photos to see if it might work for me. And in doing so, I solved my own problem.

Photo by Myla Pearce. Don't her things look great displayed like that? And how easy to find what she wants to wear!

I hopped onto Amazon, found a similar one, and ordered it. It arrived this weekend and I began inserting my bridle rosettes. Looks pretty good thus far!

I also included a photo of my father with his circus pony, Oh Boy. I have Oh Boy's bridle and there is one rosette remaining on it, so I plan to pop that one into the case, too. The plain silver one is from my first horse, Amy's bridle. 

Thanks, Myla, for the wonderful idea!

Horse Family from Nancy Falzone

It's always meaningful to acquire a piece for my collection from Nancy Falzone. She's been a dear friend for a long time, and the pieces I buy from her are "black hole" pieces - they are staying with me and most definitely not for sale!

Yesterday I went to Great Lakes Congress December show. Nancy was in attendance and had brought two things I'd purchased before the show day plus some other things, too.

This bay set of Maureen Love horses in mint condition came home with me. (Nancy has teeny tiny documentation stickers on their bellies that I intend to keep there as part of their history.)

HR Horse Rearing, A-234, 1954-1985 (early piece), $60/set of 4, Nancy Falzone, 12/2017

HR Mare, Running, A-233, 1954-present (early piece), $60/set of 4, Nancy Falzone, 12/2017

HR Foal, Running, A-235, 1954-present (early piece), $60/set of 4, Nancy Falzone, 12/2017

HR Foal, Lying, A-236, 1954-1957, $60/set of 4, Nancy Falzone, 12/2017

New Circus Ponies - Applause & Encore

I have wanted this pair for a long, long time.

Applause and Encore!

Applause and Encore, $711096, 2006 BreyerFest SR, 500 pairs made, $305 ppd, Diane Perry-Smith, Grand Blanc, MI.

This quick snap done from my phone does not do the pair justice - their shading is gorgeous and the gold metallic paint on their bridles is lovely.

Super happy to finally have this pair. (Originally she wanted $350 plus $15-$30 postage. I offerened $280, she countered with $305 ppd.)

Circus Seals!

They're not equines, but they are circus! And so I am including them here as part of my collection.

Japan Bone China Circus Seals, $25, 8/8/16, eBay, Alicia Westdorp, 1202 NE 13th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33909

Hamilton Collection Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Miniature Show Horse

I found this on eBay as I looked for HR circus ponies.

 Hamilton Collection Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Miniature Show Horse, $11, Jeanne Forstall, Metairie, LA, 6/2016.

 I thought this was a piece that could be bought as a circus souvenir, but I think actually it was something that Hamilton offered on its collectors' site.

Made in the UK of a very heavy resin; limited to 9,800 pieces.

HO Scale Preiser Circus Ponies

I bought this from Chuck's Trains on eBay. (Photo from eBay listing.

HO Preiser Performing Horses, 1:87 scale, 20382, $22.75, Chuck's Trains/Landis, 3/2016.

They're small, but I am excited to add them to my collection of circus ponies!

Donna Chaney Circus Pony

I bought my first Animal Artistry piece from Donna Chaney in England. She sculpts beautifully, and does her pieces in resin, ceramic, and china.

Circus Pony/Donna Chaney/Animal Artistry, $93 GBP/$159.45, 2/2014

I ordered the color, and admit I am disappointed. But, the piece looks much better in person than it does in this picture that Donna took of it. In fact, the longer I've had it, the more I like it.

The plumes are add-ons, and the top one broke off in transit. But apparently that is very common and all I need to do is put a drop of Super Glue at its base and reattach it.

There is a rearing Circus Pony companion piece. I am not sure I will order one, but I am thinking about it.

First Purchases of 2014

First up for the new year, a Hagen Renaker Circus pony with maroon/lavender harness.

 Hagen Renaker Circus Pony, A-266, $30, 1/2014, Lucy Kusluch, Springfield, TX.

I LOVE circus items, and I bought these Hagen Renaker imitations from Nancy Kelly. (Picture taken by Nancy; puppy not purchased.)

Begging Dog, Monkey, and Seal, Shiken Bone China, Japan, Circus Dog, $13/each, 1/2014, Nancy Kelly, DeWitt, MI.

HR Circus Dogs

Lynn Lindgren has proven to be a valuable resource for HRs. After my purchase of the camels and elephants, I asked her if she had any other HR circus animals for sale. She did - these two dogs.

Begging Circus Dog, A-279, 1955-1956, $31, Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013.

Seated Circus Dog, A-268, 1955-1956, $28, Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013.

They were in MUCH better condition than she described - I was quite surprised at the state they were in, especially for pieces older than me.

Here is a picture pulled from Ed Alcorn's Hagen-Renaker online museum for reference:

Apparently, dogs came with and without the base; seems to have been at the whim of the manufacturer.

HR Circus Animals

Lynn Lindgren, a seller on MH$P, frequently has Hagen Renakers for sale at a good price, and often she will come down in price. This time, she even threw in a free piece.

 HR Head Down Elephant, 1987 - 1989, $9, Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013.

HR Seated Elephant, 1987 - ?, free (has chip on trunk), Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013

HR Standing Elephant, 1987 - 1997, $9, Lynn Lindgren.

HR Camel Mama with Fez, 1956, 1968, $18, Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013.

HR Camel Baby with Fez, 1956, 1968, $14, Lynn Lindgren, 8/2013.