In the 1950s, Hagen Renaker released some animals to go along with their circus ponies. In the third edition of Gayle Roller's book, Hagen Renaker, she states that these pieces were "part of the 1955 Circus Set." (p. 265.)
I don't have them all, but I am lucky enough to have many of them.
He is glued onto a circus pedestal, but I bought him second hand and do not know if he came out of the factory that way or if someone who bought him did the gluing. My guess is that the factory did it (much the same as they did with Performing Misty and her stool in 1993.)
The circus pedestal was also released 1955 - 1956. (And later again in 1969.) The early pedestal came in blue, dark yellow, or red and all had gold trim. I am still looking for the red one, but any of the pedestals are very difficult to find. I don't have high hopes that I will ever find it.
I have put the Seated Dog on the yellow pedestal for this picture but I would never leave him there - too much risk that the dog would fall off and be damaged.
These performing elephants were not part of the 1950s release. They came in the late 1980s. I find that interesting since they were released after Hagen Renaker stopped the second production of the circus ponies (1980 - 1983.) I would think they'd release them all together.
The Head Down Elephant was made 1987 - 1989, the Seated Elephant from 1987 - 2000, and the Standing Elephant 1987 - 1997.
The wrinkles and body detail are much better on the brown one, too. I am still trying to figure out if I have an oddity or if the piece was actually produced in brown and perhaps my book is in error.
These two baby elephants aren't really part of the official Hagen Renaker Circus Collection, but I include them in circus animal collection anyway. On the left is a very, very old Elephant Baby with pink ears, cartoon eyes, and in matte grey. This color (grey) is not listed in my book, so this is another piece I am researching. The smaller piece is the Indian Elephant Baby in glossy brown. The glossy version was only produced in 1976.
The research materials I have list the Standing Elephant's color as grey, but one of mine is clearly brown.
Mama and Baby Camel with fez hats were included in the 1950s Circus Collection and produced only in 1956. The camels were produced in other years but without hats.
I'd like to know more about Hagen Renaker's Circus Collection - the pieces are not in scale with each other by any means. Why was that? I can think off a couple reasons, but sixty plus years have passed since the collection was released and most of those involved with its production are no longer with us to ask.
Having said that, they make me smile and are much appreciated pieces in my collection.
I'm sure you would not be surprised to learn that, just as there are phony ponies, there are some imitations of these pieces as well. And, I have a few of them to show you.
Prepare to be amazed!
