Monday Markets: Dec 23 2024
- Sara Roche
- Dec 23, 2024
- 3 min read
This is a recurring feature where I discuss that latest happenings in the model horse markets! One of my hobby niches is following value trends alongside my love of collectibility and rarities and so I bring you some of the most interesting models and notable sales of the week.
This past Wednesday was the 21st edition of the Bonnie Ellis Estate Sale auctions and I think the 10th one featuring her model horse collection - I have lost track! As with the previous auctions, some fantastic models were up for bids across Breyer, Stone, and more.
The highlight of the sale was definitely this Test/OOAK Clydesdale mare painted by Tom Bainbridge. Tom designed paint work for Breyer for many years and it is always exciting when one of his tests comes up for sale. It's no surprise she went as high as she did.
Two woodgrain Belgians!! This is one of the rarest of the woodgrains and they are both in amazing condition. Not milky or bubbled at all, as seems to be common on this model. I was surprised by the price differential but that shows you what a bidding war can do.
Also they went surprisingly cheap, even with the 18.5% premium considering one sold on eBay a couple weeks ago for $3750. I too paid even more than that for mine, although he also has a tenite sticker. I have a feeling they will be flipped.
And here is a selection of other lots that caught my attention
This Best Customs Contest prize actually sold 2 weeks ago but somehow I missed seeing it! Amazingly there is also a second one up for sale on Facebook right now, currently listed at $4600
Alborozo is selling around $800 this week - he's one of my market barometers. He was selling for over $1000 at the height of the pandemic market. In October and November they were more like $600-$750.
This really cool vintage salesman sample Man O War also came up for sale this week. He has a black (or very dark) mane and tail, eyewhites, very nice shading, and hand masked unique star. The last offer I saw before he ended was $1000
In terms of current releases, it looks like Hot Cocoa officially sold out this week. Not a huge surprise since she is a very hot new mold and the color is gorgeous on her. The older molds don't seem to be as popular - the 2023 and 2022 models in the Pony for Christmas series, Mittens and Kohl, are still available and on sale for $34.99
I've also been following the release of Courchevel, the 2024 winter decorator, who is currently still available on the Breyer website. The roll out was a little bit different this year where Breyer offered them first come first serve, first to collectors club members and then to the public. In recent years they have done a lottery drawing. This led everyone to suspect there were more than 1000 made (the number of Vail, last year) but Breyer didn't release the number (which turns out to be 2000) until later.
He appears to have fallen in to the limited edition paradox - if you make 500 of them then 2000 people want one, but if you make 2000 of them only 500 people want them! Obviously the price makes a difference too and the general sentiment I have seen has been that he is a little steep at $155. I personally haven't bought one because I'm thinking of reducing my Andalusian conga this year as it is, although I do love the colors. Would I have bought one at $85? Not sure, but I would have given him a harder look.
As always - buy what you love and not just what you think might go up in value.
And don't forget to check the Breyer website today at 1 PM Eastern to see the Christmas special run for 2024! I didn't participate in the Huck last year but I can't wait to see what this year's model is.
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