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1990's Children to Cherish (Page under development)
Ballerina Time Out
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Ballerina Curtain Call
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Ballerina Unknown
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Young Cowboy
Released 1990
This sculpture was introduced as an open edition along with several other children in active roles playing. He was listed as still available on the 1999 price list.
Issue / Completed Price on 1999 price list
$275 $395
Design number 4042
The 1990 color brochure lists his name as Young Cowboy but on the 1990 Fall price list he is listed as Little Cowboy. By 1993 that changed to Cowboy, Little Boy.
Measures 8 1/2" tall
Measures 8 1/2" tall
No color or design variation have been noted on copies offered on the secondary market.
Young Soccer Player
Released 1990
The Soccer Player was introduced as an open edition and remained available through 1999.
Issue / Completed Price on 1999 price list
$195 $295 on the 1999 price list
Design number 4052
The sculpture shown above is the production item as it has the standard blonde color hair found on most Cybis children. The other images are from the prototype used for marketing photos and likely never produced. It is dated 1982 which indicates it was in the studio's archives as an item for future release a full eight years prior to the 1990 release. There were so many children released during the early and mid 1980's the decision was likely made to hold this piece back in favor of releasing items perceived to have greater sales potential. He obviously did not fare any better having been released in 1990 as few were produced and he is seldom seen.
Measures 8 1/2"" tall
Measures 8 1/2"" tall
Slight variations are noted in how the soccer ball, boy's shoes and hair are painted. The base he stands on is also significantly different in color.
Young Football Player
Released 1990
Measures 8 1/4" tall
Design number 4050
Released as an open edition, the Football Player was the only black child portrayed in a full figure sculpture. The studio had previously released two child head busts of black children, Jason and Jessica. Young Football Player remained available through the 1999 price list.
Issue / Complete Price
$195 $295 on the 1999 price list
Design number 4050
Measures 8 1/4" tall
Design number 4050
No design or color variations have been noted among sculptures offered on the secondary market. In the last 25 years only three sales were recorded. The name was altered slightly on the 1993 price list from Young Football Player to Football Player, Young Boy. The studio added a sub category of Children's Sport Grouping inside the Children to Cherish collection and it would appear the name change intended to bring clarity.
Measures 8 1/4" tall
Measures 8 1/4" tall
Measures 8 1/4" tall
An oddity with this piece science fiction fans can appreciate, is the boy appears to be signaling the Vulcan hand sign for "live long and prosper". This gesture popularized on the long running TV show Star Trek was likely NOT the studio's reason for separating the boy's fingers.
Child Gone Fishin'
Girl with Lamb
Released 1990
This girl was introduced as an open edition along with several other children for 1990. She was listed as still available on the 1999 price list.
Issue / Completed Price on 1999 price list
$275 $350
Design number 4073
No design variations have been found but color variations are possible. An unfinished example was sold with red hair in the studio's liquidation.
Prima Ballerina
Released 1998
This final ballerina was introduced as an open edition in 1999. She appeared on the May, 1999 price list with the tag "NEW" next to her design number. It is the highest design number on that sheet for a sculpture depicting a human and the only one with NEW next to the listing. This indicates she was the last release of the 20th century. Also the price list entry does not specify if she was an open edition or was limited with a declared issue. This had happened on other introductions in the past where a limited declared issue was announced after the initial release so it could be assumed that may have been the plan here too. No numbered pieces have been found so far. Her late introduction to a nearly absent market meant few orders were received. This explains why she is rarely seen.
Issue / Completed Price
$975 $975 on the 1999 price list
Design number 5106
Of the items sold on the secondary market two are note worthy for the incised details on the bottom of the base. The top photo shows a copyright date of 1998 while the lower photo shows the year 2000 with the addition of "Millennium". This discrepancy leads only to speculation. Was there a problem in filing the patent in '98? Was it even registered? Either way, once discovered molds were altered to 2000. Maybe a plan existed for a "Turn of the Century" group of sculptures that would be released in 2000. This is a mystery that will likely never be answered.
Measures 8 3/4" tall
Measures 8 3/4" tall
This simple piece with no added lace, ribbon or floral adornment reflects the status of the studio at the turn of the century. Any items introduced had to be minimal in design and easy to produce. The staff was long gone and only a few key people were retained on commission when needed. Items ordered needed to be quick turn with minimal complexity. This ballerina's refreshing simplicity actually makes her a very lovely piece. It is far preferable to see a well executed design in minimal form rounding out the decade (and the century) as opposed to another recycled part from a previous sculpture with gaudy attachments.
Cybis Collector's Society-Princess, Prince & Little Princess
Golden Princess 1995
In 1994 the studio undertook an initiative launching a new program that was no different from every other porcelain producer's "collector's club". Promoted as the Cybis Collector's Society, the club offered discounts on specific purchases and the opportunity to buy a "members only" sculpture released for each renewal of the membership term. The annual membership fee entitled club members to be first to purchase special releases (including the option to purchase the annual club piece), a free catalog and hardback book of poetry with images of Cybis sculptures. Additional inconsequential items were offered as gifts each year with the member's renewal. The "society" was available for three years before being retired.
Released as an open edition limited to the number of members placing orders, Golden Princess was the first edition offered to the "Cybis Collector's Society". Promoted in 1994 for availability in 1995, she was the "members only" offering for 1995 but available through 1996 to new members. A $25 purchase discount was available for pre-orders received in 1994.
Issue Price
$275
Design number 5099
While the prototype used in marketing photos (top image) was not the same as production items sold from the studio (lower image) it was an all new and original design! However, the prototype shows a sculpture finished in the highly polished 24k gold used in the Old Coin Gold process. What buyers received was the matte finish gold paint that has no sheen at all. After reviewing the 28 documented items sold on the secondary market, not one had the shiny gold finish achieved using the Old Coin Gold process. Obviously, the studio opted for the matte gold paint as a cost control option and in the process falsely promoted an item no one received. This was not the same as previous design changes noted on numerous sculptures where production changes were made to correct problems. This was a decoration bait and switch. It was yet another disappointment indicating the studio's glory days and "golden" years had long since passed.
Measures 8" tall
The actual measurement of the copy in this collection is slightly less than 8". The exact measurement of any sculpture can easily vary due to the firing process. A quarter inch difference is certainly understandable and expected.
The one surprise with this sculpture is the butterfly is actually attached during the mounting stage so it is fired on. The studio had in recent years relied heavily on adhesive bonding agents to attach components after the firing process. This was easier and cheaper as opposed to attaching pieces with slip and firing them so they become a single piece of porcelain. At least the Golden Princess was made using the older technique. Damaged pieces offered for sale have shown half the butterfly broken off. Seeing the damage, it was clear the porcelain was broken and pieces did not merely separate because the adhesive agent had failed. Unfortunately, the third "club member" offering, The Little Princess, had her butterfly attached using an adhesive bonding agent. Examining the copy in this collection confirms it was not fired.
Golden Prince 1996
The Golden Prince was released as the second in the series of the "Members Only" set of sculptures available to those in good standing in the Cybis Collector's Society. He was offered for the 1996-1997 membership term.
Issue Price
$- unknown
Design number 5101
Th Golden Prince was created from The Prince, introduced in 1987. His princely hat was changed to a crown. Interestingly, the prince's crown had touches of Old Coin Gold applied to the matte gold finish of the crown.
Golden Little Princess
The Golden Little Princess was the third and final sculpture of the special collector's club editions. It was promoted as the edition for the 1997-1998 membership term. While not promoted as the final edition she became the final piece by default when the program was canceled in 1998.
Issue Price
$199.75
Design number
The Little Princess was created from the 1988 Flower Girl. Gone are the floral decorations and her basket while she gained a golden butterfly. The first edition Golden Princess had the butterfly attached with slip and fired as a single piece of porcelain. Unfortunately, the studio reverted to its old ways and attached the butterfly in the hand of the third edition Little Princess with an adhesive bonding agent which made it more susceptible to coming loose.
Measures 5" tall
Measures 5" tall
The gold paint used for Little Princess was much brighter that the previous two editions but still not the Old Coin Gold polished finish.