| Newsletter #2 | |
Other Newsletters | |
| January, 1999 |
The pictures tell the story. In no way are these bells to be confused or
compared with the Opaline doll figurine which QVC has recently featured on the
Internet as C-45106, at $26.29.
When the "Southern Belle" doll figurine was done in the Rose Pearl (5141 NX), with no artwork whatsoever, Fenton's sticker price was $45.00 and subsequent issues were priced at $48.50. In studying the details and beauty of this figurine -- especially the long flowing hair -- Mrs. Walrath concluded that the "Southern Belle" would be the Belle of all Bells . She also felt that the carnival process would surely emphasize and enhance every detail.
All things
considered, Fenton was then engaged to produce this figurine as a decorated
bell with for the first time ever, a crystal clapper and be produced in
12 different colors. However, due to the length of time required to produce
them, Mrs. Walrath decided to terminate the series with only 6 colors and all
her customers were advised accordingly. Somewhere during this termination
process, Mrs. Walrath learned that Fenton had already run the Emerald Green
Holiday color. After serious deliberations and taking into consideration that
the collection was already closed with the six previous issues, heads were put
together to determine the appropriate action. It was decided that these bells,
dubbed as a Special Edition, would be named after Mrs. Walrath's sister Peg
who had just passed away, and be produced in her memory. Only 200 of these
belles were ever made.
As you can see from the copy of the accompanying certificate, Mrs. Walrath spared no detail or expense concerning this project. She always put herself in the place of the collector if or when pieces produced for her would change hands. No details or added costs were spared when Mrs. Walrath instructed Fenton that "inside of each and every bell her name would be inscribed, as well as the Edition number, the name of the belle, the individual number of each bell, plus, of course, the artist's signature".
The entire "Southern Belle" Bell collection was designed by Kim Plausche, and final approval for each production was determined from the "Artist Proof' samples. These samples are inscribed: Mary C. Walrath - A/P, the Edition Number, the name of the Belle, and Kim Plausche's signature.
Although Edition No.
4 -- Susan-- was eventually produced in Crystal Lustre, artist proofs
were submitted on four different occasions in the Sea Foam Green, which Mrs.
Walrath rejected because she felt the color would not look its best next to the
Opalescent Persian Blue which is No. 3 in the series. The decision was reached
to have Susan
produced in the Crystal Lustre to enhance #3 and #5.
It seems that Fenton, shortly thereafter, offered a decorated doll figurine on QVC in the decorated Opaline. Many have expressed their opinion to Mrs. Walrath stating that there is no comparison with the seven issues produced for her. How or why QVC can now offer this figurine (but not as a bell) at $26.29, raises many questions. The answers to these questions can best be left up to viewers and collectors.
I believe the Walrath Belle Bell collection will undisputedly rank as the least produced bell collection which Fenton has ever produced, in any fashion. The first 6 bells were produced for only one run which yielded less than 300 of each one .... and Peg , being the Limited Edition, is limited to only 200.
From experience, Mrs. Walrath has learned to stay away from opalescent choices on figurals due to the fact that sometimes the opalescent shocks the piece. If this happens in the matching numbered series, -- and it has -- Mrs. Walrath would not ship out what she felt was a "black sheep". Thus, she chose to break up the set rather than to ship it out complete. Therefore, -- should a bell with a number before 200 appear, -- it is because the set was broken up for this reason and will be very rare. I pledge to do the same, if necessary. All things considered, I am sure you will agree with me that this "Belle" bell collection is intended to be prized with pride amongst serious bell collectors desiring the rare and unique.