Breyer SM Scratching Foal

I found this little baby for $0.25 at the Romney Toy Shop. I was rummaging through a small tub of small farm animals, and there it was. Not bad for a quarter!

 Breyer SM Scratching Foal, $0.25, Palomino, #5982.

Breyer Shetland Pony

I found this piece in Romney at the Romney Toy Shop. I left it behind the first time I saw it, and then purchased it when I went back with JC and Trinity so that they could get Braden, Addie, and Corinne some things. (Out of their own money, no less!) It is a nice piece, albeit dirty, and I figured I could clean it up and sell it.

 Breyer Shetland Pony, #25, glossy alabaster, $9, Romney Toy Shop.

Hagen Renaker Retro

I have loved the piece, Retro, that Hagen Renaker re-iussed a few years ago, but the cost ($120) for the size (Stablemate) was too much, in my opinion. So, when I saw one on eBay for $59, I bought it, even though $50 is generally my limit for a SM sized piece.

It arrived today, and I was surprised to discover it was larger than SM -  a bit bigger than a Little Bit but not quite Classic sized. In fact, I am thrilled at my new piece!

 Retro (re-issue, 2006, #114), $59, eBay/Debra Kerr.

Organizing the Minis

My Hagen Renaker minis have been packed away since we move here in 2006. Along with my "original herd" chinas and some other pieces, they have been sitting in boxes in my office closet. I sold the china hutch they were in when we moved and just did not have a place to put them.

I had been toying with getting some new shelves when I saw an eight shelf CD/DVD holder for sale at Walmart and got an idea. The smaller shelves would be perfect for my minis, take less space, and should hold what I had tucked away.

And I was right - except that it took two shelves, not one.

I am about out of wall space in my office, so I had to block the windows a bit. But since these shelves are not even five feet tall, they leave the upper half of the windows clear so light can get in.

Here's how they look next to the shelves that my traditional sized Breyers are kept. I am really happy with how this turned out.

Staffordshire Drafter

Staffordshire made some china and porcelain pieces back in the late nineteenth century. They're not my cuppa tea, but they are considered valuable and highly collectible.

Apparently there is a company in Great Britain that does reproductions. Or did - judging from the piece I found at Raven's Roost Antiques, it was made in the 1950s or 1960s. (I've tried but been unable to find out anything about the company.)

 Staffordshire Reproductions England drafter with harness, $9.50, 5/31/13, Raven's Roost Antiques.

 I'd love to take the harness off, but that would lessen any value the piece has, so it's staying on.

Using my Breyer Misty for scale.

Glossy Charcoal Fighting Stallion

I picked up this beauty at Devine Antiques yesterday for $54. Definitely worth the price!

 Glossy Charcoal Fighting Stallion, 1961-1963, $54

 You can't see it in the pictures, but it has footpad remnants (on the tail, too.)

I already had the piece, but the new one was such a good piece, I figured I could sell it or, if it was nicer than the one I already had, keep it as an upgrade and sell my old one. My first one is on the right and is much darker.

I think I will keep them both.

Metlox Poppytrail or Lane Piece

Friday I found this piece at Devine Antiques in Lafayette.

 Metlox Poppytrail or Lane ceramic, $9.95. Devine Antiques, Lafayette, Indiana.

 He's big and he's heavy. This is Breyer's Misty to give perspective.

 The flip side.

The piece is obviously old as the glaze has crazing.

I've asked for some help identifying it via the Breakables group on Yahoo, and so far two hobby experts have weighed in:

I believe it is a Lane horse, but I think Metlox also made a similar horse. I have seen both on eBay before.
-- Diana Dubbeld

Yes, it appears to perhaps be a copy of the Metlox "Morgan" -- similar but not the same.
-- Sue Stewart