Breyerfest 2022 LE Crystal Reveal: Lorelei

 

A Sneak Peek Butt photo was used for the last Breyerfest Blog post, with the full reveal within the post:

I saw it and was surprised…but happily surprised. Could it be? Is it really her? One of the earliest Breyer molds (based on a Maureen Love sculpture for Hagen-Renaker), the Proud Arabian Mare (PAM) was first produced by Breyer in the 1950s. She went out of production for around ten years or so while Breyer and Hagen-Renaker were negotiating the terms regarding use of the mold (the Breyer/Hagen-Renaker story shall wait for another time). Indeed, the ever popular Proud Arabian Mare is this year’s Breyerfest crystal. She has been miniaturized and crystallized, and is sure to be on many collectors’ want lists. She was named after the big rock, Lorelei, which is located on the banks of the Rhine River:

Unfortunately, due to Breyer’s bad photography, we cannot get a decent view of her. Lorelei is camouflaged quite nicely against the white background. Nevertheless, I’m sure she’ll be quite the stunner in person, and is actually the first crystal I may add to my collection. I love the crystals, but I’m afraid of them getting broken.  Same thing with any easily breakable horse—I admire them from a (safe) distance. A few decades ago, the Hagen-Renakers I had were utterly destroyed during a move. As in smashed to smithereens. Of all the boxes to get flattened, it was the H-R one. I had carefully wrapped and packed them, but it was no match for a crushed box. :(    Lorelei will cost $50 and will be the largest crystal run to date with a run number of 2,200 pieces. 

*Photos of Lorelei are from Breyer’s website.*

Breyerfest 2022 SR Reveal: Brahms

 

Another Sneak Peek Square was revealed from Breyer, which was black and white and spotted and glossy:

We saw more of the model in a photo in the Breyer Blog before clicking on the post for the full reveal:

It was a mold we haven’t seen in awhile - Big Ben is back as Brahms (yep, had to get some alliteration in there y’all):

The well known German composer, Johannes Brahm, has been given a nod with this model. The Big Ben mold is a glossed black leopard Appaloosa featuring a mismark (a genetic irregularity) on his right front shoulder and leg. Brahms is priced at $65 and is a run of 2,200 pieces.

*Photos of Brahms and Sneak Peek Squares are from Breyer’s website.*

Breyerfest 2022 Prost! Event Stablemates Disclosed and Grimm’s Fairytales

 

There they are! And they all have food inspired names, which is terrible because I have not had breakfast yet. I am now distracted by thoughts of pretzel of all kinds. The chunky hard crunchy ones, and the soft, buttery pillowy type. I have not had a pretzel in quite awhile, so it’s time to— get back on track to the Prost! Event Stablemates. First up is Brezel, a glossed chocolate flaxen on the mini-me Emma/Fell Pony mold: 

Trotting in next is Doppelbock, a shaded bay done on the mini-me Clydesdale Stallion. Doppelbock flaunts unplaited locks in the loose mane and tail version (first introduced on Atticus for the 2021 Stablemates Club):

After a popcorn intermission, next we have Spaetzle, a buttermilk buckskin pinto on the mini-me Alborozo mold. I like his salt and pepper mane and tail:

Finishing up the Event Stablemates is Lakritz, a glossy dark dapple grey on the G4 Hanoverian mold. His is extra festive because he has painted ribbons in yellow, black, and red. I think this is the first time the braids have been painted on this guy, but I could be wrong. Either way, his braids look nice:

Breyer had put an entry in their Breyerfest Blog about fairytales, notably those collected by the Grimm Brothers. I had a flash of nostalgia when I saw this in the blog:

Breyer cut out the creature the knight was speaking to. I was always fascinated with that dude’s shoes, which looked like little sacks tied to his feet. I had (and probably still have) this particular edition, which was published in 1945 or 1946. It was republished a few times, so some books bear dates from later printings. I think ours was picked up at a rummage sale, and it had a hand written message to some child as it was a gift. I love getting old books and seeing if there is a handwritten message in it to the recipient. Sometimes it is a simple “Christmas 1952, from Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Albert” or a more lengthy message wishing wisdom and health with the hope the book is enjoyed. Here is another illustration, Princey-Prince saying hi to the old witch in Rapunzel:

The book cover on mine was super sturdy and linen (I think), and was lavishly illustrated:

I have just ordered another copy from Amazon, but no clue which printing it is. Most likely a later printing, but I am hoping there is a message written within the covers!

*All photos are from Breyer’s website, except the last one which is from Amazon.*

Breyerfest 2022, Old News, Post Breyerfest 2021, Old News

 

Okay, old news at this point as we know what next year’s theme is, but here’s the banner anyway:

We are about a week and a half post Breyerfest and the Seven Arts Surprise model remains a mystery. Breyer had stated they would begin shipping the BF models the week of July 26. All of my orders still show the status as unfulfilled, which is fine. In my favor, last week was so crazy and action packed that it sailed past quickly so I didn’t even have time to think about models. I received Fireheart on July 16, and I *still* haven’t opened him up. I wonder how long it will be before the first Seven Arts Surprise surfaces. I had thought that BF boxes would be on the move by Monday (the 26th), so we would start seeing models arriving at people’s homes around today (Wednesday). Some folks are reporting their orders showing an August delivery, which isn’t that outlandish as July is almost over. 

Oh, I did end up ordering a glossy Apollo del Solis. I had decided not to order anything else, and then I caved and bought one. At least I showed some restraint as I didn’t buy a matte one too, lol. All in all, I think Breyer did a good job with this year’s Breyerfest. Stuff in the Breyerfest Store didn’t sell out in two seconds, and the content is available until the end of the month. I really appreciate that as I was unable to watch any of it. I think it’s high time I watched some Breyerfest content before it goes buh-bye and open Fireheart. It’ll be like a fake Breyerfest model opening party.