Original

A few good china mould makers pictures I discovered:

FOR SALE: Original North Light Percheron Mare

Image by appaIoosa
Catalogue information:
North Light Percheron mare, bay #P1171B
Size: Height 8 3/4&quotH, x 9 1/2&quotL
Identifying marks &amp logos:
has North Light stamp on inside hind leg, plus: ©NL 95 Produced IN UK
225$

The Percheron breed originated in northern France in the Normandy area. This horse is the most well-known and numerous of the French draft breeds, and was almost certainly created from a mixing of local Norman horses, Oriental breeds left behind in Europe by the Moors and some Arabian blood. This cross breeding created the large heavy draft horse employed 1st by medieval knights and then for agriculture and cart function. The added infusion of Arab blood in the 19th century contributed to the Percheron becoming far more active and lively than other heavy horse breeds. The Percheron of right now, is a much more refined horse, with intelligence, great-natured personality, spirited and prepared attitude and exceptional elegance for such a heavy breed.

This massive North Light model is accurate to the breed normal: with great bone, sturdy heavily muscled shoulders and hind quarters, and medium length sturdy legs with big hooves and no feathering. A life-like face with big moist looking eyes completes this superb creation.

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This is a single of the original North Light horses developed by the North Light factory in Stoke-On-Trent, England (not China) – before the firm was sold to Wade Ceramics, and prior to Wade outsourced these molds for production in China.

This mold has been discontinued for some time now, and really rare. The original (created in Stoke-On-Trent, UK with North Light backstamp) are really rare and very tough to come by. In truth, all the original North Light horses are becoming very rare and challenging to uncover.

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North Light model horse figurines are made of a porcelain and resin composition, which let for the in depth mold detailing (some with person hair detailing, braided manes &amp tails, etc) that is really evident in the finish. The figurines are completed in a studio exactly where they are airbrushed with the body colour and shading essential for the specific breed piece. Subsequent comes the hand detailing , which can be in depth, based on the horses’ color pattern. Pinto and appaloosa patterns need substantial hand function, and vary greatly from horse to horse. Facial attributes also receive hand detailing, with expressive, lifelike eyes which have a final gloss application to make them look moist and realistic. Touches of pink are added to muzzles. Nostrils are darkened inside to add depth.

With this degree of hand detailing, every single model horse will vary slightly.

North Light is a firm positioned in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The location is renowned for its potteries and figurines, including the effectively identified Wedgwood, Beswick and Royal Doulton brands. In 2005, the North Light factory was sold – which includes all existing North Light molds – to the company: WADE CERAMICS LTD (yes, the same firm that created those small whimsy figurines located in red rose tea boxes years ago). Wade repackaged the existing North Light horses beneath their new trademark and resold them inside the Wade division as &quotNorth Light @ Wade&quot horses.

Directly from Wade Co. web site, verbatim:
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Contributed by Carol Atrak
Monday, 18 July 2005

We have pleasure in announcing that Wade has purchased particular assets from Dennis Doyle of the North Light resin figurine range. North Light, which will trade as a division within Wade as &quotNorth Light @ Wade&quot, is famous for its range of dogs, farm animals, horses and wildlife figurines. They are manufactured in resin and hand painted. The &quotClassic Dog and Horse Ranges&quot are completed in marble, china blue, bronze, Monet and other effects to grace the sideboards and coffee tables of the World’s finest residences.

Managing Director, Paul Farmer mentioned, &quotNorth Light @ Wade&quot will bring a new dimension to Wade’s figurine capability and Wade’s mechanisms for on-line purchases of its ceramic items will be adapted to cater for North Light products too. We are also looking forward to improving our ceramic hand painting tactics which come with the North Light asset acquire.&quot

Artists, Guy Pocock and Anne Godfrey, have been retained to continue modelling new lines and Clare Beswick, from that famous family members of figurine makers which bears her name, has been appointed Sales and Item Manager for North Light @ Wade.

The manufacture has been moved from Biddulph to a separate resin location within Wade’s Royal Victoria Pottery in Burslem.

In 2008, Wade announced they would no longer make the North Light @Wade horses (and dogs) at the factory (in the UK). Rather they decided to release a new line: &quotNorth Light @ Wade Premier Collection&quot (consisting of 17 horses and 22 dogs) – to be created in China. Numerous of the existing NL horses you see becoming sold on eBay (and elsewhere) right now, bear the &quotmade in China&quot sticker, along with the NL backstamp.

In 2009, Wade ceased production altogether on all current North Light models . Right now, North Light horses are no longer being produced, sold or marketed by Wade Ceramics, producing these horses highly sought after, beneficial and rare.

I have no thought what the Wade Co. decided to do with all the current North Light horses. Some say they sold the current molds to a business in China.

If your North Light horse has the &quot©North Light Produced in the UK&quot backstamp, you have a extremely uncommon &amp valuable collectible certainly!