What's new on Kikimalou's diplays ? Season 2 ! updated April 25

Kikimalou wrote:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Thank you Ania, I'm glad you like those insects, I remember it isn't exactly your cup of tea. The Little gang is very nice, a review will come soon. I will tell you.
Both Bactrian camel and Dromedary have a "Je ne sais quoi" in the eyes that catch my heart.

That's true, I'm not very much interested in insects most of the time. But these are really special! I think they are fascinating and the pink mantis is also very pretty

They are also artistically inspiring. I try to imagine what would it be if mammals also had such amazing mimicry ability

Indeed Water chevrotain, Greater mouse-deer and Yellow-striped chevrotain are doing their best to be as discreet as possible in their environment but faced with the four insects "skills", it's a long shot.

As always, beautiful photos and great additions. Interesting to read the info about the vintage companies too.

Merci Jean-Luc et Roger

I made a Divartisity Red river hog and Chevrotains review [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

I can't believe I missed all these beautiful additions! School has been so busy at the moment.
As usual, so many vintage treasures that you specialise in, and a wonderful celebration of new life! The bugs are stunning too, incredible detail on them and accurate colours!

Thank you Lilias 

Wonderful news !
I love to watch Kiki`s newcomer models , every time is a joy
Kiki, I wish you a very healthy and happy , new life !
All composition models are wonderful . I really like this charming Cofalu rhino, which was in your wish list. The 4 models from Nepaim`s hands , look`s amazing.
And I really like these Takara insects . They are on my wish list , so I can`t wait to watch your walkaround of them
Congratulations !

So whats new in november and december ? The invasion was reasonable in quantity but extraordinary and totally unforeseen in quality.
To end 2021 on a high note, here is the last fireworks display before 2022.
Once is not custom, I start the presentations by the new plastic arrivals

First the 1/1 scale Bandai spirit Giant devil’s flower mantis, this small giant (nearly 19cm tall) is again a great hit. It seems Japanese brands started a competition to offer us 1/1 scale beautiful animals. This one is more expensive than the four takara Mimetic insect but I was unable to resist

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And now the well known CollectA basking shark, a lot of good things have been said about it and I completely agree. 

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Two Papo reached my beach, the so charming Edible crab and the excellent Common Starfish. For several years now, Papo has taken special care of these little creatures. It's astonishing to see their quality increase while the more current models see their painting become more and more mediocre. When you think about what this brand was doing ten years ago, it's crying ... 

Well, these two are little gems 

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We stay in plastic but we go back in time to reach Périgueux, in France, in the 1970s.
I was able to complete my Starlux collection with the two Chamois and the two Squirrels from 1971.
I didn't hunt particularly after them but they had the bad idea of passing too close to my den ...

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It is time for us to move away from plastic for aluminum. We stay in France but we go somewhere between the end of the 1930s and the end of the 1940s.
First with an Indian rhinoceros from Aludo. This is the name that the company Domage & compagnie gave to its Alu production which began in 1937. This Rhinoceros will have known three materials in its long career, first produced in hollow lead under the DC brand, then in aluminum and finally in hollow plastic under the Acedo label.
I own the plastic one and I wasn't particularly looking for an aluminum clone, but this little guy gave me an eye in a toy fair not far from my home. I didn't have the heart to leave him in the midst of toy soldiers armed to the teeth.

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For those who follow, that is another matter. the LR company (founded in 1924 in Paris by Louis Roussy) also manufactured aluminum toys from 1937. As far as we are concerned, two series of animals are attributed to this brand, one with models of similar size to the modern  western productions and one closer to "54mm".
I have a lot of affection for these productions full of mysteries but the models are very difficult to find even in average condition.
Twice in December I had the chance to find a few. My first miraculous stroke of luck allowed me to put my hands on the Indian rhinoceros which was part of my ultimate wishlist. It was already Christmas before the hour when I unearthed a second one accompanied by some of his friends. I shared the loot with Christian, a collector buddy who likes LRs like me, we were both over the moon. Christian didn't have the rhino and I didn't have the elephant. Happy with the added bonus of the funny little crocodile.

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In the fair where I found the two rhinos (I found three in fact) I also came across some inexpensive hollowcast lead monkeys from JSF and an ostrich from "I don't know the brand" . JSF is a Parisian company founded in 1933 which also produced toys in lead, then in aluminum and finally in plastic until 1951.
Even if none were on my wishlist, I'm happy to find some room for them in my hollowcast lead jungle, and then this unknown ostrich intrigues me. I love to discover little mysteries like this one.

JSF Monkeys
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Unknown Ostrich
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To finish, let me present to you the little wonders in composition which embellished the end of the year and explode my wallet in a reckless manner.
Also at this fair, I came face to face with a third Indian rhinoceros! A Durso, the Belgian brand that I have already told you about. He was enthroned (well for me) in the middle of a stand run by a Belgian seller of course. I already had one of those rhinos in great shape but this one was even better than that, shining. According to my seller, it could be one of the models used as a reference in the Durso workshop. The price was reasonable and I dug deep into my pocket to walk away with it, telling myself that it was the last purchase of 2021.

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I was rocking myself with illusions, as soon as I got home, determined to avoid looking at anything on eBay again before 2022, I decided at the same time to take a last look to prove my determination. That's how I came across a whole bunch of old Pfeiffer in very good condition, very old Pfeiffer produced between 1900 and 1914. I tell myself close your eyes, you haven't seen them, especially not the rhino and the tiger, you've never seen them, they will sell for the price of caviar by the ladle.
At that moment, I receive a little message from Ricardo "there is a guy who sells Pfeiffer but he only delivers in France, can you help me?" We tried it together and we were the only ones to bid, a real Christmas story, the thing that only happens in the movies. So we both end up with absolutely unimaginable wonders in our hands.
If tomorrow I meet Harry Potter or Gandalf the Gray outside my door, it will hardly surprise me.
The Rhino and the Tiger there, I've known them for a long time, for me it was unthinkable to have them in my displays, it was even unthinkable to put them on a wishlist. Obviously, against all expectations, Santa Claus exists.  

More to show soon

Pfeiffer 1900 Indian rhinoceros
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Pfeiffer 1900 Brown bear
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Pfeiffer 1900 Dromedary
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Pfeiffer 1900 Striped hyena
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Pfeiffer 1900 Tiger
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Wow, I've come across these older composite figures before, but I never knew they were that old... I'm honestly surprised how nice they look for being 120 or so years old (that's nuts). I think I have associated older toys with less detail and just assumed these types of figures were from the late 20th century. Thank you for teaching me something about them!

So many fantastic oldies here! The face of the striped hyena and tiger are very pleasant and charming to me. 

Congrats on all, but perhaps the mantis makes me most green with envy... it is simply gorgous. Congrats!

Wow, everything here look`s wonderful.
But especially these old jems.
Look at these Pfeiffer models
Congratulations Kiki

So much wonderful oldies :)

I don't collect lead or alu because of the price, the lack of affect (I never had any when I was a child) and because I already have so many plastic scales and models that I can not afford to begin metallic other ones but this Durso rhino could have make me to change my mind! It is wonderful!

    But I must be very careful with compo because I could let me go with some productions like this wonderful Pfeiffer ones! They just seem to have been made yesterday!

Lovely newcomers, Christophe!

Wonderful fireworks display to round off 2021!
I love those beautiful Papo models, and of course the vintage ones too, especially the squirrels! And that CollectA shark is stunning, a really wonderful choice!

You have very varied taste in models, from mainstream toy figures to intricate modern Japanese insects to vintage so old and precious they're more like antiques! Congratulations on so many beautiful and rare finds, what a way to round off the year!

Your additions are always a compendium of the history of this hobby with an extreme eclectism.
Those stories about the Durso and Pfeiffer are also emblematic of how magic is this hobby.

This Bandai flower mantis is really marvellous. And it is very large.

Congratulations

The Pfeiffers are amazing. I am guessing they must have been expensive toys at that time. Toys weren't common then (my parents say they didn't have any toys and they were born in the 1940s) and a lot of workmanship must have gone into them. 

Congratulations on completing your Starlux collection! I find the starfish interesting because it seems to be made specifically as a collectors piece rather than as a toy. I can't imagine a child would play with a starfish, or is that my lack of imagination?

I do not have time to write - I'll have to scroll up and drool some more

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: I’m glad you find them nice and I am on the other hand very surprised that you have already met some, it’s great, congratulations.   Our passion is an archipelago full of surprises that I love to explore and share. When I come across wonders in the Pfeiffer genre, I wonder if there will be collectors in a hundred years from now and what they might think of current toys.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you Paige for the hyena and tiger, they are very pleased.   The Mantis is green too, at the time of the photo she raised her arms shouting "hey, it's not just antiques here! Look how pretty I am!" 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: I was sure you would love them Kosta 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you Andreas, you are a wonderful oldies too… Not so old but wonderful ! 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: You are a wise and lucky man Alain, I would like to be as strong as you but I’m a weak macaque who can’t resist to siren’s call, whatever material they are made. Beware of Durso rhino and Lineol wisent, the first compo animal I bought in 2003 changed my life and my wallet forever !  

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you for your kind words and to have noticed the squirrels, they are very charming. 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you very much. I love animal toys, from anywhere and anytime and my favourites are always the next to come. I would be happy to share some pics then and I hope you will enjoy them. 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: You know I have a bias for eclectic collections and open minded collectors, there’s so many beauties we don’t know yet and you are right, some models are so full of magic that the story of their discovery can only be magical too. 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Thank you Fernando, I was indeed surprise how large it is 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: You're right, these toys had to be expensive and only for wealthy people ... They are worth even more now and I am very lucky to own a few of them. 
They are certainly the first animal toys produced "industrially" even if a good part of the manufacturing process remained artisanal. At the time they must have been very modern toys. Britains Ltd would not produce their first set of animals until much later in 1929. I am glad to have something infinitely precious in my hands.
The starfish is very emblematic of nowadays Papo productions and maybe is telling us a lot about children taste. The first time Papo made a tiny weirdo like the scorpion, I thought to myself it will be a miss, even if the model is great. I was wrong, it was a hit and Papo repeat the operation every year from now on.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]: Scroll Susanne and enjoy 

Wonderful oldies-love the tiger and the Chamois.

Kikimalou wrote:

We stay in plastic but we go back in time to reach Périgueux, in France, in the 1970s.
I was able to complete my Starlux collection with the two Chamois and the two Squirrels from 1971.
I didn't hunt particularly after them but they had the bad idea of passing too close to my den ...

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


For those who follow, that is another matter. the LR company (founded in 1924 in Paris by Louis Roussy) also manufactured aluminum toys from 1937. As far as we are concerned, two series of animals are attributed to this brand, one with models of similar size to the modern  western productions and one closer to "54mm".
I have a lot of affection for these productions full of mysteries but the models are very difficult to find even in average condition.
Twice in December I had the chance to find a few. My first miraculous stroke of luck allowed me to put my hands on the Indian rhinoceros which was part of my ultimate wishlist. It was already Christmas before the hour when I unearthed a second one accompanied by some of his friends. I shared the loot with Christian, a collector buddy who likes LRs like me, we were both over the moon. Christian didn't have the rhino and I didn't have the elephant. Happy with the added bonus of the funny little crocodile.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]



To finish, let me present to you the little wonders in composition which embellished the end of the year and explode my wallet in a reckless manner.
Also at this fair, I came face to face with a third Indian rhinoceros! A Durso, the Belgian brand that I have already told you about. He was enthroned (well for me) in the middle of a stand run by a Belgian seller of course. I already had one of those rhinos in great shape but this one was even better than that, shining. According to my seller, it could be one of the models used as a reference in the Durso workshop. The price was reasonable and I dug deep into my pocket to walk away with it, telling myself that it was the last purchase of 2021.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I was rocking myself with illusions, as soon as I got home, determined to avoid looking at anything on eBay again before 2022, I decided at the same time to take a last look to prove my determination. That's how I came across a whole bunch of old Pfeiffer in very good condition, very old Pfeiffer produced between 1900 and 1914. I tell myself close your eyes, you haven't seen them, especially not the rhino and the tiger, you've never seen them, they will sell for the price of caviar by the ladle.
At that moment, I receive a little message from Ricardo "there is a guy who sells Pfeiffer but he only delivers in France, can you help me?" We tried it together and we were the only ones to bid, a real Christmas story, the thing that only happens in the movies. So we both end up with absolutely unimaginable wonders in our hands.
If tomorrow I meet Harry Potter or Gandalf the Gray outside my door, it will hardly surprise me.
The Rhino and the Tiger there, I've known them for a long time, for me it was unthinkable to have them in my displays, it was even unthinkable to put them on a wishlist. Obviously, against all expectations, Santa Claus exists.  

More to show soon

Pfeiffer 1900 Indian rhinoceros
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Congratulations Christophe!
what absolute treasures you have and such a fun read about your will power but it paid off very very well! now you have such gems in your possession!
the elephant is a beautiful pose, and I love the squirrels!
is the tiny squirrel a 1/32nd size ? I was trying to imagine it
I love both these rhinos the best. The shiny one is gorgeous! and a browny colour, how very special. And to imagine that the other one is 120 years old and doesn't look a day past 3yo :D
such a wonderful adventure you have had

Thank you very much Sunny and Taylor 

The squirrel is not more than 2cm tall but it still to big for the 1/32 scale.












From the US New-Ray, a Kangaroo mother from 1992 
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Very very special newcomers - i love it. But where are all the old treasures? We need more experts here

I especially llike the Jescan chameleon, but it looks a little bony