Collecting Artist Resin model horses is akin to collecting fine art. Collectors seeking the ultimate show horse or the most lifelike horse models possible choose these original, limited edition hand-painted sculptures to grace their collections. Such sculptures often retain their value or increase in value over time, depending upon their record in model horse shows.
History of Artist Resins
Sometime around 1990, equine artist Carol Williams created the first-ever resin casts of a Quarter Horse model she drastically customized. Soon a company called Black Horse Ranch, run by long-time model horse hobbyist Karen Grimm, offered for sale limited edition casts of original resin sculptures painted to order. DaBar, a resin casting company, launched a line of competitively priced resin models soon afterwards, and a unique niche in the model horse hobby was born.
Categories of Resin Model Horses
Hobbyists divide resins into two categories: solid and hollow cast.
- Solid cast resins: Artists or companies create solid resins by pouring a liquid urethane plastic compound into a plastic or rubber mold. Once the resin sets or hardens, the mold is pulled away, resulting in one model horse. Hobbyists and individual artists may use kits purchased from art supply or craft stores to create small runs or limited edition releases.
- Hollow cast resins: The more desirable Artist Resin model horses are hollow cast. The body of the horse is hollow with solid legs, tail and head. If the model requires a base, the base is frequently solid cast for stability.
Hollow cast resins, especially larger-scale resins such as Traditional or Classic scale pieces, last longer. The weight of the horse's body on a solid resin can press against the more slender legs causing them to bow or bend unnaturally over time. Hollow resins avoid this problem because the body is lighter. Steel rods used to reinforce the legs also prevent this problem.
Resins Are Sold Unpainted
Artist resins are sold unpainted. The customer or a second artist called a painting artist finishes the horse into a lifelike color. Resin material comes in many colors but unpainted resins appear white, ivory or gray due to the various materials used in the casting process. Metal rods used to strengthen legs and tails may show through slightly on the legs. Customers select a finishing or painting artist to transform the model into a painted work of art, or they may choose to paint the model horse themselves.
Buying Artist Resin Model Horses
Artists or companies produce Artist Resins in limited editions, specified by either the number of molds made or the actual number of casts produced. Each mold on a commercial rotational casting machine creates about 50 models. A typical "run" or limited edition is 50 pieces but there is no standard. Artists set the edition size and specify it when the new resin horse is released.
Many painted Artist Resin horses are listed on eBay, but websites such as Model Horse Sales Pages list both unpainted resins and painted resins for sale that are owned by collectors. Part of the fun of collecting Artist Resins is hunting for that perfect treasure to complete the collection, whether a collection focuses on one artist's work or a particular breed.
Before buying a painted Artist Resin, ask the seller to send photographs for inspection. Look for perfect condition with no scratches, dents or dings, which significantly drop a painted resin's price. Examine all sides of the model: front, back, right and left side. Ask for photographs of the details such as hooves and eyes. Request information on show status or wins if the horse has been shown. Pay promptly, and request insurance on the package since a painted Artist Resin model horse is irreplaceable.