Très Chic: Breyer's Small Poodle

The Story of a Doggone Mystery

By Jocelyn Cote

The mystery of the In-Between Mare may be the most famous story of a “lost” Breyer mold – but did you know that a Breyer dog was caught in a similar caper? For over 40 years mold #82SP, the Small Poodle, was completely unknown to Breyer collectors and even the company itself as the steel injection mold traveled from Chicago to New Jersey when the company was acquired by Reeves International in 1984. Marked simply as “Poodle” on the outside, it was assumed that the tool was for Breyer’s original “large” Poodle (mold #82LP) and put into storage. 

The two Poodle molds vary quite significantly – the Small Poodle is much trimmer and stylized, evocative of the “poodle skirts” that were all the rage in the 1950s. The standard Poodle is larger in both size and body type, giving more of a “working dog” feel. Both sport collars – the Small Poodle’s is decorated with bows and the standard Poodle has a buckle.

The Small Poodle (mold #82SP) and standard Poodle (mold #82LP).

Fast forward to the year 1995 – when examining a list of the company’s injection molds, Breyer VP of Marketing, Stephanie Macejko, came across an anomaly: two separate listings for a “Small Poodle” and “Large Poodle” mold. She called expert Breyer historian Nancy Young and asked if she had any insight, but the concept of two separate poodle molds was news to Nancy as well. At the time it was assumed that the two listings were for the two separate pieces of the steel injection tool.

It wouldn’t be until the fall of 1996 that the Small Poodle would finally make its presence known through an exciting collection once owned by a Breyer sales representative. Collector Bob Peterson acquired 18 stunning vintage pieces, many of which dated to the 1950s – three white Boxers, a Corky and Bimbo set, and a Brahma Bull, among others. One of these models was not like the others: a poodle that was distinctly different from the glossy white #68 Poodle included in the lot. Painted in a blue-grey colorway, this poodle was smaller and daintier – so dainty, in fact, that the tip of its tail was broken off. But the seller was sure this piece was a Breyer and that the sales rep had displayed it at a New York toy fair in the 1950s. Bob got in touch with Nancy to see if she could offer any insight, and the last piece of the puzzle clicked into place! Nancy asked Stephanie to double-check the injection molds in storage, and sure enough there were two distinct tools – one for the original Poodle, and one for a smaller poodle that was a match for Bob’s.

The original blue Small Poodle found by Bob Peterson, as published in the May/June 1997 issue of Just About Horses magazine.

So, what exactly is the Small Poodle’s story? Unfortunately there is no known paper trail for how it came into existence or why it never went into production. The simplest explanation is that there wasn’t enough interest – if the original blue and grey poodle was indeed on display at that New York toy fair, there would have been an opportunity for feedback before production began. The fact that the original Small Poodle’s tail is broken also suggests that the sculpture was quite fragile and the company didn’t want to risk damaged product, opting for a more robust, solid-cast poodle instead. Whatever the reason, this pup hid, quite literally, under our noses for decades.

In the May/June 1997 issue of Just About Horses, this exciting discovery was finally announced to Breyer collectors at large with a feature story on its unearthing. As a special surprise at BreyerFest that year, the injection mold was put to work for the first time in decades to produce four sets of Small Poodles in four colors: shaded white, shaded grey, apricot, and black. Four ticket purchasers were chosen by random draw to receive this unique and exciting prize in the heat of a hot, sticky Kentucky summer day.

Set of four Small Poodles created for the free BreyerFest 1997 raffle

The first and currently only time the Small Poodle was put into production was in 2009 for BreyerFest: Birthday Bash. Keeping with the theme of celebrating important pieces in Breyer history, the Small Poodle was painted in a shaded glossy blush pink as “Cotton Candy,” the non-equine Special Run for that year’s lineup. While future releases are still yet to be seen, a few flashy test run colors dot the shelves of the Breyer Archives, putting a fun and modern twist on fabulously ‘50s piece.