Lot #30: Curated Vintage Miniature & Curio Collection: Pewter, Copper, Fri-Homa, Rare Kinder Gnomes +

This expansive lot features a meticulous collection of high-quality miniatures and curiosities, housed in a vintage three-tiered wooden chest. This collection spans continents and eras, featuring a blend of fine porcelain, artisanal metalwork, and nostalgic collectibles. Collection Highlights: -Fine European Porcelain: Includes a notable Eiffel Tower miniature plate, signed "Decor Florence Limoges France," a hallmark of quality French craftsmanship. -Artisanal Metalwork: an array of detailed brass and copper kitchen miniatures, including tiny kettles, pots, and pans. -Japanese Ceramics: A charming miniature orange tea set, with pieces signed "Made in Japan." -Nostalgic Toys & Collectibles: Features a variety of vintage mini toys, highlighted by original Kinder Surprise egg gnomes, highly sought after by toy collectors. 1984 Hudson Pewter Beach Dog. 1961 Louis Marx TV Tinykins hand-painted plastic figures of the Flintstones' Barney and Betty Rubble. 1982 Knickerbocker "The World of Annie" miniature figure. -Fri-Homa Margarine Figures: Fri-Homa refers to a brand of German margarine that became famous in the 1950s for including small, off-white plastic figurines as advertising prizes. The company, founded by Fritz Homann, began inserting these figurines into margarine packages starting around 1950 to promote brand loyalty. The figures were produced using early injection molding technology, often in collaboration with the SIKU toy company. This era, specifically 1950–1954, is considered the "heyday" for these collectibles. Thousands of unique shapes were made, ranging from farm animals and wildlife to nativity scenes, city buildings, and historical people. While they resemble carved bone or ivory, they are actually made of a durable, unpainted off-white hard plastic. These "margarine figures" (or margarinfiguren in German) are highly sought after by collectors of vintage advertising memorabilia and miniature toys. Because the free giveaway practice largely ended in 1954, original figures from that period are considered quite rare today. -Small figurines are known as Fèves (singular: fève): traditionally hidden inside a King Cake (Galette des Rois) for the Epiphany holiday. They originated as dried fava beans before transitioning to porcelain or plastic figurines. Today, they are highly collectible items featuring various themes from nativity scenes to famous characters. The objects in this lot appear to be a mix of themed porcelain fèves, some signed. -Pewter & Mixed Media: A vast assortment of pewter figurines and household items (clocks, gramophones, busts) organized across multiple tiers. Storage & Presentation: The items are beautifully displayed in a compartmentalized wooden chest. The "printer-style" dividers in the middle and lower trays ensure each piece is visible and protected, making this lot ready for immediate display or resale. Condition: The collection appears well-preserved. Given the variety of materials (limoges, brass, pewter, and plastic), some items may show age-appropriate patina or wear. Please refer to the images for a detailed view of specific pieces. Contact [email protected] for pick up related questions. Pickup category timeslot {A}