#Collectors #Robyn #Whites #Collector #Breyer #Horses #WorthPoint
When I first saw photos of Robyn Whites’s booth on the Eclectic Elephant’s Facebook page, I couldn’t believe how many horses were packed on those shelves. Naturally, my initial thoughts turned to the toys I had when I was little. I remembered the other girls I knew growing up, who were always drawing pictures of horses on their folders, had rainbow horses on their Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers, and had a much stronger interest in equestrian activities than I did. I thought about “My Little Pony” and similar plastic products with purple skin and rainbow manes that were perfect for braiding. But, if you walk through Robyn’s booth and think only of childhood fantasies or write the booth off as, quite simply, just toys, then you will be missing out on the fascinating odyssey of Breyer.
As I quickly learned during my conversation with Robyn, describing Breyer horses as toys is not quite accurate. Even the horses that look like they’re packaged for children aren’t nearly as simple as you might assume. For Breyer collectors, these horses are more models than toys, and their value doesn’t come from any bright colors or braidable manes. It’s the accuracy of the horse that gives it its value, and Breyer collectors see these collectibles as representations of individual breeds rather than playthings or even knickknacks.
As Robyn explains, Breyer horses fell in popularity when the company experimented with making smoother, shinier designs that were meant to look like they were made of glass. This is another sign that Breyer collectors are interested in the real deal, not shiny, glittery imitations.
Now, if you’re not much of a horse person, you might not exactly understand this fascination, but your mind will most certainly change when you take a moment to inspect a far inferior horse model. Robyn was kind enough to show me a non-Breyer horse for comparison and let me tell you, I never knew how un-horse-like a horse could look.
Even if you’re not into Breyer, I encourage you to watch my conversation with Robyn on Collectors Like You. We dig into the fascinating history of Breyer, discuss design, and also talk about what some of the most expensive Breyers have sold for. And if you need to see Robyn’s booth to believe it, take your next thrifting road trip to the Eclectic Elephant Antique Mall in Cheyenne, Wyoming. While you’re there, be sure to inspect all of the amazing booths at Eclectic Elephant, which are full of vintage clothing, jewelry, décor, and some surprising mid-century treasures.
In addition to her role as HIP’s curator of photography, Allison Radomski is a writer and filmmaker. She spends her days hunting for analog cameras, scoring her own movies in her laundry closet, and building her collections of Polaroids and handkerchiefs. She has degrees in cinema & media studies and religious studies from the University of Chicago.
WorthPoint—Discover. Value. Preserve.
