A Hagen Renaker Slip Tile & the Belgians

The Hagen Renaker Collector Club 2021 Annual arrived yesterday!

And tucked inside with it were goodies from Kristina.

This sticker was one of them, and I smiled to see the Disney Samson included on it.

Even more exciting was this slip test tile. 

Dated December 8, 1997, it was for the mini Belgian.

The backside of the slip tile. (The double sided tape is on the outside of the package and was used to hold the tile in its foam packaging.)

I have two of the Belgians that this slip tile was a test for.

Hagen Renaker produced it from 1999 - 2001.

The tile does not say that it is a paint test tile; it is a slip test tile. Slip is the liquid clay they pour into the molds to make the figurines.

Checking the bottom of the hooves will give you a glimpse of the slip that was used.  

A darker slip was used for the Belgian on the left and that influences his eventual color - he is darker than the one on the right. (It's also interesting to notice the different placement of the vent holes on their bellies.)

Variations are fun - look at how the mane decorations are a little bit different from each other.

The lighter Belgian has beautiful shading in his mane.

I'm not sure what that is peeking out from under the label on the darker Belgian. 

I pulled a little out from underneath and it a a very light film. (I did not want to take the label off the check - experience has shown me that once those tiny labels are removed, they tend to not stick well when reapplied.)

Thanks, Kristina, for the slip tile - it is a unique addition to my collection and it prompted a fun examination of my Belgians.

Special Run Hagen Renaker Spanish Mustang

I received my Hagen Renaker Collectors Club special run Spanish Horse in the mail yesterday! And he is luscious.

Kristina Lucas Francis sculpted him, and only 125 were made. He was $50 to club members and sold out quickly.

I am not sure that I would call this color buckskin, though. Maybe a sooty buckskin? Chocolate bay? I'll have to do a little research as horse colors are not my specialty.

Regardless, I like him very much and am happy to have him!