Cheval Gypsy Horse in Skewbald

This is my favorite of the new Chevals that arrived this week.

 Cheval Gypsy Horse in Skewbald, R390 ($33), 286/1000, 5/2018, Cheval/Johnny DeBeer, 15 Warwickshire Crescent, Botha's Hill, South Africa.

 I think this piece is beautifully done.

 And, that it one of the two that were made to order for me (check out the date.)

Cheval Friesian

This is my second Cheval Friesian. I sold my first to Jamie Rott a year or so ago. I had no plans to buy another, but when the opportunity arose...

Cheval Friesian, R390 ($33), 286/1000, 5/2018, Cheval/Johnny DeBeer, 15 Warwickshire Crescent, Botha's Hill, South Africa.

 While lighter than my last Friesian, he is darker than he appears in these photographs.

Johnny told me that they had to make two of my pieces, and since this one id dated 2018, I am guessing this piece is one of them.

Cheval Quarter Horse in Appaloosa

This piece is actually a mistake - I had ordered the Smaller Warmblood Mare in Appaloosa. I received the Quarter Horse in Appaloosa.

 Cheval Quarter Horse in Appaloosa, R360 ($30), 307/1000, 2011, Cheval/Johnny DeBeer, 15 Warwickshire Crescent, Botha's Hill, South Africa.

 I am going to keep it - the prices were the same and it's pretty, plus I do not want to mail it back!

 I think the company may be changing their name to Nguni Ceramics.

New Chevals

Cheval is a small company owned by Johnny and Diana DeBeer in Botha's Hill, South Africa. In the mid 1990s they had US distributors, but those were discontinued a long time ago. Chevals were still being produced, but you could not order them if you did not live in South Africa. Or so a Facebook post said on a site devoted to collecting Chevals.

After Christmas, I decided to go to the company's site and see what they were making now. After all, they are not seen often at shows or online and I had no idea what they were producing. Was I in for a treat - the horses were gorgeous! And, there was an order form, a shopping cart, and a way to pay. I decided to take a chance and place an order, just in case the information posted on the Cheval collectors' page was incorrect.

It was.

I got an email from owner and sculptor Johnny DeBeer in response, cautioning me that the postage to the US would be prohibitive and saying that it might be a while before I got my order as they would have to make two of the pieces. But he did not refuse my order, so I told him to go ahead with the deal.

This box arrived Wednesday.

 It seemed a little small, so I was a bit worried about how the horses might have been packed. But inside was lots and lots of shredded paper, and the models were in bubble wrap inside individual boxes.

 One box had somehow taken some damage - again, I felt worried as to what I would find inside.

 But the Gypsy Horse in Skewbald was in perfect shape, and oh so beautiful!

The Friesian appears lighter in the photograph than he really is. This is my second Friesian; I sold my first to a hobby friend who really wanted him. (That one was named Darth Vader. This one is now named Vader Too.) I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to get him again!

Lastly, the Quarter Horse done in a pretty Appaloosa.

After these arrived, I went back to the Cheval site (go here) to perhaps order some more. Sadly, the smaller versions are all sold out, and they only have the larger pieces for sale. While those are pretty, I have not yet seen anything that I really wanted to add to my collection.

Of course, that can always change...

HR Sky Chief

I went to the Stone spring horse show and bought myself a retirement gift.

Sky Chief, B-682, 11958-1959, 1968, Hagen Renaker, $225, Alicia Strayer-Mangan, Stone horse show, 5/2018

 He is my retirement gift to myself - I had budgeted $300 and thought I would buy a Stone Andalusian, but they were sold out.

My class motto (coined by the kids themselves) is "Flying high with Mrs. I." Well, he is SKY chief! And so he came home with me!

HR Miss Pepper

I went to the Stone Country Fair and Liz Isham Cry had this Miss Pepper for sale.

 Miss Pepper, B-701, 1959-1971, Hagen Renaker, $60, Liz Isham Cory at Stone Show in Shipshewana, Indiana, 5/2018.

Vintage Club Tanner

My Vintage Club Tanner, and extra offering, arrived Tuesday but I only opened him today. I absolutely LOVE him.

 Vintage Club Tanner, #712244, $135, less than 500 made, 2018, Breyer.

 His box says he is brown pinto, but he sure looks like a black pinto to me!

 The head looks like it might be chalky.

 Hard to tell. Some of the Vintage Club pieces have been chalkies (Lucky, Kiowa, Magnus, etc.) in the past, but I am finding it difficult to tell on Tanner.

 I love the warpaint - there are symbols on Tanner's flanks...

 ... his neck...

... and his hip.

Overall I am pleased and he is a welcome addition to my collection!