Breyer Theo - Merry Christmas to Me!

I would normally just gush about this guy in my collection thread, but I'm too excited about him, I feel like he should have his own thread. :) I didn't see one out there for this mold yet, and I think it's one of the best new ones in a long time, so here he is!

I have been a little bit of a grump about new Breyer models for many years. Round about 2000, Breyer started undergoing some stylistic changes that just didn't sit with me. I fell out of collecting for many years (not that I never bought any, of course, or that I didn't like anything released! Or even that I liked everything released prior, quite the contrary, some of my least favorite models came out of the 90s). I thought perhaps I was going to be a mostly 'vintage only' collector in the long run, which was fine with me - I tended to spend less money and need less space! But then, in 2012, the Vanner was released and I had to admit that even though it was the over the top drama of a lot of the newer molds that disinterested me, I felt that this one really nailed the balance and proportions better. And then in 2018, Emerson or the Standing Thoroughbred was released, and that one really captured my fancy. I felt it had the best of the new detail and the old subtlety. But in 2019 they really did it for me with Georg, and I realized they were probably now on a trend to start releasing new models I liked again. (Now there's 2021's Astrid - clearly a new page as turned for me, aesthetically!).

Georg was a Premier Collection model in 2019, so I didn't stand a chance at owning him. The next two, Oak and Julius, were also special runs (Breyerfest and Vintage Collection), so same story. But finally they released a regular run on the mold - Theo, the French Ardennes, this year. As this narrative suggests, I don't buy many Traditionals new anymore (second hand is a different story), about one a year, so Theo was my one this year.
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This mold is everything I like in a Breyer. I love that he is not in a dramatic pose but a stately square stance. He has a handsome face and kind eyes, and a beautifully proportioned body (Breyer hasn't always nailed that, with drafters). The artist did not overstate the feathers or the crest of the neck, but still made sure both were a Presence. He has incredible detail but isn't flashy or "unlikely" as I think of some of them. He's already a fan favorite for sure, I am not alone in admiring him, but I remain impressed!
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I enjoy this iteration of his color. He does have a metallic sheen, which I don't think everyone loves. His mane is not very precisely painted (that's my only real complaint personally, the straight line of spray and the missing tips is distracting), and his hooves, while painted, are just barely. However, it hits all the right points for me. I love roans, and I like browns, and I love slightly metallic shiny things. He has some rich shading on the face and a nice snip and browning in the tail. His "roaning" isn't too symmetrical and is pretty subtle. I think he's quite nice. I don't know how he holds up to showing standards as an Ardennes or anything, but from a strict curb appeal, I think he's a hum-dinger. (I lack good photography backgrounds for large scale models!)
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I really also love this model. It reminds me a lot Gustav from WIA collection. I don't know if I checked it correctly on Breyer site but it looks it is also Brigitte Eberl's sculpt. I really love her sculpts too and I really understand your excitment. I keep promising to myself to get Gustav but let's hope I don't take too long and they're gone.

Congratulations

He is such a big handsome chunk of a horse! I agree about his face, so kind and placid, like he'd be a nice one to handle and be around.
You also got a really nice level of, uh, metallickness..? Metallicity..? Shine , nowhere near as over-the-top as a lot I've seen, which looked practically decorator they were so pearly bronze-like, your guy looks far more subtle.
His mane looks far better on the 'wrong' side, just by taking the line of dark paint a little bit further down to catch the mane tips too, what a pity they didn't do the same on the display-facing half of his neck.

Oh, and I meant to drop in a quick cheat for a big photo background without trying to chase up actual printed backgrounds from some hobby specialist - a sheet of brick print paper from dolls house shops (about £1/$1) is a really cheap and easy way to get something to-scale for the big models to stand in front of!

Wonderful model,congrats!

I can see why you love Theo, beautifully realistic and such a natural looking model! There's so much detail in the sculpt and the way he is painted, and that face is priceless! Such a wonderful Christmas present!

Thanks guys! I'm really enjoying him! Glad to hear I got one that isn't quite as bronzey as they come. Everything in moderation.

Roger wrote:

I really also love this model. It reminds me a lot Gustav from WIA collection. I don't know if I checked it correctly on Breyer site but it looks it is also Brigitte Eberl's sculpt. I really love her sculpts too and I really understand your excitment. I keep promising to myself to get Gustav but let's hope I don't take too long and they're gone.

Yes, same artist! I wasn't familiar with any of her work before those two, but turns out she has done several other nice models that have won me over like the Andalusian mare and foal from 2015.

George wrote:

Oh, and I meant to drop in a quick cheat for a big photo background without trying to chase up actual printed backgrounds from some hobby specialist - a sheet of brick print paper from dolls house shops (about £1/$1) is a really cheap and easy way to get something to-scale for the big models to stand in front of!

A good idea! I need to go find some good white paper for my light box anyway, I should look for some good backdrop while I'm at it.