Hagen Renaker Designer's Workshop Thunder

My friend, Cindy Neuhaus, owner of Lakeshore Collection Horses, has sold me several of her Hagen Renaker pieces at very good prices. I cannot afford to pay collectors' prices on the old Designer Workshops, but once in a while someone offers one at a really good price, and I jump. I have accumulated several really nice pieces just by watching the market and waiting for the right price.

Yesterday, this Designer's Workshop Thunder arrived in the mail from Cindy.

DW Morgan Stallion Thunder, B-549, 1954 - 1958, matte palomino, $75, Cindy Neuhaus, Edwardsville, IL. 5/2014. (Cindy paid $200 for him!)

Cindy wasn't sure, but said his offside head/neck area and his tail may be restored.

I'm no expert, but I did not find anything that resembled restoration work when I examined the piece. That could mean that I have a poor eye, or more likely, the restoration artist did a terrific job!

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.

Entering NAN

I used to do quite a bit of showing with my collection of model horses. As I began teaching, weekend time became harder to find, and so, while I still collect and keep up with what is happening in the hobby, I rarely travel to shows anymore.

But, after a show-drought of seven or eight years, I attended three shows in Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky in 2012, including Breakables in Lexington, the largest all-china show in the world. (My tablemate was from Puerto Rico, and folks from all over the world were there.)

My 1958 Hagen-Renaker china Sherif winning the Reserve Grand Championship of the Americanware Show. (The red china horse head is a stirrup cup trophy sculpted by Kristina Lucas Francis just for this show.)

All three of those shows were qualifiers for the very biggest model show in the world - a three day show that encompasses not only china, but plastic, resin, customs, and performance called NAN (North American Nationals).

With reciprocal qualifying shows in Europe and Australia, folks from all over the world who qualify pieces come together for those three days to show annually at venues across North America. This year it is being held in Lexington, Kentucky - a four hour drive and thus quite doable.

I attended the inaugural NAN in 1995 and then the third NAN in 1997, winning several Top Tens at each. There were 100+ showers back then; that number has since more than doubled. Competition is FIERCE. (I may not have gone since 1997, but I do watch the show as it is live streamed each year.)

All in all, I have about 30 pieces qualified, but I am only taking 15, the best of my best. (Including Sherif who has won multiple trophies and championships over the years at shows. Not bad for a $4 auction find!)

So, I organized all the needed qualifiying cards, filled out the online entry form, and then mailed in the cards (they prove that I was at the show and won the class) to the registrar in Texas.

I have a BUSY summer coming up, and I may end up not being able to show depending on family plans. I can get a refund of all my entry fees until June 13, so I will make my decision by then.

Susecion & LeFire Reissue

Breyer found some body blanks in their warehouse and reissued the very popular Susecion and LeFire set. I have the first release and only bought this set because it is a very popular set, thinking perhaps I would resell it down the road. The reissue's paint job is far superior to the original!

Arabian Mare and Foal, Reissue, #430011, $34, Breyer Web Site, 2014 only, 4/2014.

Mortens Studio Prancer

My second Mortens in a month! (See Morainewood Kennels blog as the other is a Collie.)

Mortens Studio Small Prancing Horse, $14.99, 1940s,  eBay/Aloma Dolan, Sun Prairie, WI, 3/2014.

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).

Diablo - Vintage Collectors Club 2014

My favorite mold in a luscious red roan - not a color that has ever been done on the semi-rearing Mustang. I am soooo happy with this piece!

 Diablo, #712103, Vintage Collectors Club 2014 #2, $127, 3/2014

Joining the Vintage Collectors Club when it first began was a good decision on my part - I have loved all that they have put out, and this year looks to be the best of all!