(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 27, 2010 ) Ann Arbor, MI - A brief history of the model Schleich Horse begins in the UK created by Britains Ltd in the 1920s, with Julip Horses Ltd coming on the scene in 1947. Originally, Julips were stuffed soft toys in the tradition of companies such as Edith Reynolds, but later switched to hand-casting in latex (Julip Originals). In the late 1980s, Julip introduced a mass-produced range of vinyl horses - Horse of the Year range.
Other significant early British companies were Isis, Pegasus and Otway, all of whom cast the Schleich Horse models in latex composition (the forerunner of resin). Roy Selwyn-Smith created some very detailed 54 mm ('mini') horses for Britains, but the real quantum leap in quality for British models came with Pamela du Boulay's Rydal models in 1969 - highly accurate, airbrushed sculptures, each an artist original. Beswick also produced a line of Schleich Horse, but due to their fragility and price few were owned by collectors in the early days.
In the late '40s to early '50s in the US, Hartland Collectibles and Breyer Animal Creations (now a division of Reeves International) began producing highly realistic plastic model Schleich Horse. Both companies' first models were standing western horses next to or over a clock. Most of Breyer's original horses, dogs and cattle were sculpted by Chris Hess and made of durable plastic. The line expanded through the 1960s, and by the 1970s, Breyer and Hartland were the main model lines, although Hagen-Renaker china horses (also produced from the '50s) sculpted by Maureen Love and others, were also popular.
The latest American website for the novice and aficionado collector and modeler now has over a thousand Schleich Horse models and accessories. Visit their website at: www.schleichhorse.com/
Limited edition artist resins (usually original sculptures rather than customs), first began to appear in the 1980s. The very first were castings taken from customized Breyers, issued by Black Horse Ranch. Carol William's famous "Quarter Horse 1" or "RRQH1" ("RR" for "Rio Rondo", the name of Williams' modeling enterprise) was one of the first to be cast from an original sculpture.
The resin Schleich Horse models are high-quality castings of an original artist's sculpture and are typically sold unpainted, ready to finish by the customer or a favorite artist. They took the hobby by storm in the 1990s, and are very popular and much-sought after today. A resin can be an affordable way to own a favorite artist's work, although depending on the rarity of the piece, they can become quite expensive. Simply click on the “resin model” icon and make your selection.
