"What is magical, white, and fuzzy all over? It’s Gawain, the next release in the 2022 Vintage Club! This heavy draft unicorn is an exciting blast from the past – he’s the first Traditional-scale “flockie” model produced in almost 40 years!
“Flockies” are a unique piece of Breyer history dating back to the 1980s. Instead of being painted with an airbrush like most Breyer models, flockies are covered with a layer of adhesive that has colored flocking applied to it, creating a fuzzy surface on the model. Flockies often have their plastic manes and tails removed in favor of faux-hair. First debuting in 1983, Breyer flockies were a common sight in holiday catalogs throughout the mid-1980s. However, as the decade came to a close, flockies were quietly phased out of the official Breyer lineup. Some independent artists and craftsmen continued to create and sell their own custom flocked models to model horse hobbyists, but the only other official Breyer flockies to be produced between then and now were two sets of Stablemates and Companion Animals created as Special Runs for BreyerFest 2001.
In particular, Gawain was inspired by the “Collector’s Unicorn,” a flocked unicorn Smoky model created as a special run for JC Penney in 1984. Gawain brings flockies into the 21st century on a flashy new mold, Karen Gerhardt’s Shannondell, with updated production techniques, all while retaining the glorious kitsch of the 1980s. Gawain is a flocked white unicorn with black hooves, silver detailing, painted blue eyes, and soft grey airbrush shading for some extra depth in his color. His haired mane and tail are a long and silky mix of white, baby blue, and silver tinsel for some extra sparkle. To complete his look, he also sports a removable garland of blue roses – perhaps woven for him by some fairy friends? This magical being is ready to strut onto your shelves! All Gawain models come in a 1970s-style white hat box and include a Certificate of Authenticity." www.breyerhorses.com.