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.

Information on Zebras and Japan Labels

From Amy Peckham (who bought my three china zebras.)

The blue/yellow oval label is one that Arnart used along with several others.Arnart used a rectangular shape blue/yellow paper label a lot also, same as Shaffords red/gold "Japan" foil rectangular and oval stickers.

I did a bit of quick research on that unmarked zebra. Robert Simmons did two zebra models called "snip and snap", your unmarked one is a copy of one of them, you can see those models by Simmons at the hrgallery.8m.com website in the Robert Simmons section.

He copied the models from a German company.I can tell right away it's not Japan. I have over 600 Japan horses from 98 different stickered companies, the crazing isn't typical of Japan models and I can see the larger pour hole in belly,again not typical of japans.I really like the zebra though, he has a sort of art deco styling from 1940's or 50's. Arnart also operated under the name royal chintz,that's when they used the oval sticker. I have spent probably a thousand hours studying Japan companies.

I'm working on trying to get better at identifying American pottery companies,The zebra has the shape of Simmons zebra but has a lot of qualities of freeman-McFarlane pieces such as the eyes and feet(coloring and shape).

Zebra #4

There were two of these lying down Zebras at the antique shop.  Both had a flake on one ear, but one had some other breaks so I chose this one.

Lying Down Zebra, Japan, 1950s or 1960s, $8.50. Raven's Roost Antiques, 1/2014

 Mint Japan sticker on base.

A traditional Breyer with the two to show the scale and size.

Zebra #3

And on to Zebra #3!

He's big - Breyer Traditional size. And I REALLY like him.

Traditional sized Japan Zebra, unknown number and maker, $8.50, Raven's Roost Antiques, 1/2014.

He's traditional sized and most likely a Japan from the 1950s, maybe 1960s.

And he has a partial sticker on his belly.

I had difficulty finding a picture of him on Google images, so I think he must be pretty hard to find, certainly harder to find that Zebras #1 and #2.

A photo from the internet (eBay auction.)

Another photo from the same auction.

I will post pictures of him and the other large, lying one on Model Horse Blab and see what I can find out.

Zebra #2

Here is zebra #2. It is a Stone Critter (United Design Corporation, Norman, Oklahoma) from the 1990s and is made of hydrostone. Initially I thought this was a foal, but it is an adult zebra.

 Zebra, Stone Critters, #SC-235, manufactured 1990s, $6.95, Raven's Roost Antiques, 1/2014.

A view of his underside and label.

Just for fun, here is a picture of my two other Stone Critters. Believe it or not, both have won prizes at shows and NAN qualified!

Popcorn (the palomino and a favorite) and Roadkill (lying foal, named by another hobbyist at a live show when I put him in a mascot class. The name has stuck.)

Zebra #1

I found some zebras at Raven's Roost Antiques during winter break just after New Year's Day. I left them behind, too, so I could think about purchasing them. I don't collect zebras, but they are equids and these are very unusual and probably have some value.

So, after thinking about them for a week, I went back to the store and bought several of them. (There are others I left behind.)

The first is a Hagen Renaker imitation, probably from Japan. I have found it listed on eBay as manufactured by UCCTI, Japan (although I cannot find any information about the company online) and another listing called it a Fern. Mine has no labels or identification markings.

It seems to be the most common of the ones I brought home as I found several pictures of it online.

 Zebra Mama, HR knock-off from Japan, $6.95, 1/2014, Raven's Roost Antiques.

 The flip side.

There is a matching foal, but it was not in the collection at the shop. Here's a picture of it with the mama.

 Photo from Google images of an eBay listing.

Here is the real Hagen Renaker Zebra Mama and foal. Note the head is not turned and the legs are in a different position.

Photo from The Hagen-Renaker Museum, Ed Alcorn.

Hagen Renaker Zebra mama and babies

Produced 1952 only

Designed by Helen Perrin Farnlund