Q. SHOULD I RESTORE MY OWN BOSSONS AND HUMMELS?

A. It depends upon your artistic abilities and whether you wish to maintain and add to the antique/collectible value of these works of art. Generally, we tell collectors: "do not restore your own collectibles," especially if you plan to sell them to discriminating collectors or other distributors of valuable artwork. At Don's, we spend the majority of our time undoing and correcting what has been done by amateur artists. The following photos are self explanatory.

Q. CAN ALL PRODUCTS BE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL BEAUTY?

NO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY LOOK LIKE THIS FRAUDULENT COPY OF THE BOSSONS WHEATCROFT.

THIS HORRIBLE MONSTROSITY is a direct plaster casting out of a mold copied from a authentic Wheatcroft model. Laiden with dirt over which a heavy coat of shellac was placed,  one can still see some of the original facial lines.  However, the fine detail of the rose and collar never came out. It is unbelievable,  but the owner thought it was quite beautiul and sent it to us for authentication.  I suggested to the owner it be trashed. They then agreed to let us have it for the purpose of exposing frauds of this nature.

No one but a fool would try to restore this fake.

A. BOSSONS with normal imperfections caused by wear and tear can be restored if the restorer is an artist,  if enough time and care is spent, and the correct products are used to complete the process. Most Bossons, especially discontinued Bossons, are made of a plaster substance, which must be matched in every detail. Hummels are fired porcelain which require replacement with extremely hard, waterproof substances. Bossons products were originally painted with water-based paints that permeated the porous plaster. Some decorative portions on Bossons, including Fraser-Art,  and Hummels were painted with oils, lacquers and/or acrylic base paints. At Don's, we match the original products both in substance, texture, color and final protective finishes.

HARRY WHEATCROFT

Wheatcroft was introduced by Bossons in 1970 and discontinued in 1972. Following are examples of HARRY WHEATCROFT, in original condition as they came from the factory.

Notice in this closeup picture of the face the meticulous facial details, the beautiful hairline, and the realistic eyes. This is the brown-eyed version. It also was done at Bossons with blue eyes, but we have been told Harry had brown eyes.

Hallmarks of Bossons are the lips and teeth that make them lifelike. Fred Wright, who modeled Harry,  was an artist dedicated to perfection. It shows in every work he produced. These meticulous and varied lines in the face are part of the reason Bossons appear to come to life.

Notice the official 1970 copyright date that is on all Wheatcroft models.  Like most Bossons, the actual name of the model is incised under the collar. Wheatcroft was living when this model was sculpted and he actually put his stamp of approval on it. For several years the model was available for sale from his place of business in Nottingham, England.

It is critical that collectors learn to recognize the incised copyright notice on most every Bossons produced. It is placed in various places on the backs of Bossons. Depending upon the year of production, there are variations, but during the period of the 1970's forward it reads: "BOSSONS ENGLAND World Copyright Reserved." The letter "G" here incised stands for the mould [sic] maker and was used by Bossons as one additional factor of quality control.

Q. SHOULD ALL BOSSONS AND HUMMELS BE RESTORED?

A. Most generations (trademarks) of Hummels are of restorable value. Bossons ceased production and closed the factory as of December 1996. In the past, it did not pay to restore currently produced Bossons because at the rate of $60-80 per hour that we charge, it often made economic sense to replace damaged Bossons with new ones. However, as is the case with all coveted collectibles, when they are retired (discontinued), or become scarce or are taken from the market, the value can increase considerably, espeically for rare examples. For this reason, many Bossons are now not worth restoring. However, when they have sentimental or antique value they are worth restoring at most any cost. Also, in some cases, when the collector does not wish to invest in authentic restorations, we will offer a trade-in value for the damaged collectibles toward the purchase of new products from Don's Collectibles. We carry, in stock, a large selection of Hummels, or we can get most any Hummel you want within a few days.  Except for the very rarest example, e.g., Mimi, Rosa, and the full-colored Bare Arm Cheyenne, we have every  Bossons you would ever want in original condition. These are sold at varying prices tested by the secondary market and our 35 years of experience buying and selling these products. Considerable discounts are available for lot purchases of Bossons and/or Hummels.

Q. HOW CAN I KNOW IF MY BOSSONS SHOULD BE RESTORED AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

MAY I SELL MY BOSSONS AND HUMMELS TO DON'S?

A. Yes, we purchase Bossons and Hummels at fair market prices, remembering unless for our own collections, we must resell these products so must buy at reduced prices. In most cases, we do not purchase Hummels that have any damage or those that have been restored. With only very few exceptions we do not purchase Bossons that have been restored, especially if they are the more common examples.  For restorations, preliminary evaluations are available by PHONE, SLOW MAIL OR EMAIL. However, the only way for us to give you a firm price is for us to see your Bossons or Hummels. The smallest facial or decorative imperfection can take considerable time to restore. If you want us to do the work, pack them in double cartons, insure the parcel (UPS automatically insures each shipment for $100 at no extra cost), and mail to the above address. Please do not ship to us without prior notification. You will be given an estimate in writing and when valued over $300, you may be asked to sign a "Liability Release Form" giving us permission to complete the restoration work. If we are buying from you, in most cases, we ask that you forward the products for our approval, and if not acceptable, we will return your collectibles prepaid. FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PURCHASING INFORMATION, SEE "Appraisal and Purchasing Policies," available upon request.

NOTE: As described for Bossons and Hummels, similar requirements and procedures apply to all collectibles.

Donald M. Hardisty, Owner