If you have photos of Tiffany's work that you'd like to share, please email them to Kirsten at: whitehorsepro@yahoo.com

Tiffany selected the famous historical moment in which King Henry VIII rode out to meet Francis I before the Battle at Calais, at the Field of the Golden Cloth for her NAN 2007 donation piece. The package included a traditional scale Breyer Salinero customized into a Spanish-breed stallion, with an intricate costume and doll depicting King Henry VIII. The doll was sculpted by doll expert Wendy Galbreath, and included fine details such as the appropriate rings on his hands.

The King's horse is the new Breyer Keltec Salinero, sculpted by Eberl, remade into a dramatic piaffing Andalusian stallion, painted in oils, pastels, and pencils. He comes with a presentation base and a separate base for just halter showing. The doll is a 100% original sculpture of King Henry VIII by Wendy Galbreath, dressed by Tiffany Purdy. All of the metal findings on the costume, bit, stirrups, buckles, etc., have been electroplated by hand in 24 kt gold, and also feature loads of real Swarovski crystals. The costume was made from a one of a kind bolt of Italian fabric woven with real gold leaf threads.

A picture of the painting that inspired this lot is shown at left, and pictures of the horse are below.

This is a Sarah Rose Mini Nahar resin customized by Tiffany with a lowered head, remade neck, and new mane. He was painted in a stunning dapple grey and was offered with a tiny, intricate dancing horse costume, also made by Tiffany. This set was offered at auction for Meows and Minis Live 2008, a live show to benefit Cat Guardians, a no-kill, cageless, all-volunteer shelter in Lombard, IL.

 

This stunning Dancing Horse costume won the huge costume class at Breyerfest Live 2006, so it is NAN qualified. It has over 100 hand tied tassels, each one tied with 14K gold wire. It also features Rio Rondo coins and charms, Sulser stirrups, and genuine swarovski crystals. Sized to fit most trad models. (Summer 2006)

Mounted Archer, early 15th century:
This set is meant to be one of King Henry's personal mounted archer guards from the Battle of the Spurs in the early 1500s. They were descibed as being outfitted in highly decorated armor, but of lighter type than the heavy lancer horses of that same battle. The red accents and lion theme are the favorite color and symbol of this king, and the plumes on his guard was so he could be easily found on the battle field. It is believed that these lighter armored horses were the ones that gave this battle its name, since the English laid chase to the French across the countyside. He is equipped with bow, arrows, and a personal sword.

The doll is an original sculpture head on a mego body. The legs (and butt) are soft pipecleaners covered with cotten with handmade leather boots and spurs, so he sits very well in the saddle. The head is removable and is able to be fully posed and turned. The arms are adjustable as well. His helmut and armor is made from 15 indivually crafted metal plates. This armor design with a breastplate over mail allowed the flexibility
needed to shoot a bow. The open face helmut allowed visibility, only lancers wore helmuts that closed over the eyes.

The bow is typical of this time period. The arrows
have the large, armor piercing heads that mounted
knights used. In the set, all the arrows except two
have head (the others are just to fill the quiver).
The feathers are designed to look like European goose feathers which were used with arrows at this time. The quiver and bow scabbard are removable from the set, all with working buckles.

All metal work is hand crafted repousse on pewter, so
it has a 3D appearance. Endless hours were spent
working each piece from front and back to creat the
raised designs. Each piece is individually hand made
and edged. The leather is from a professionally dyed
hide, so the color is beautiful, uniform, and does not
bleed.

The saddle is an archer's saddle from the 15-16
century. It has the padded that goes behind the
rider's thighs to give them a secure seat. THe forward
thrust this give the rider's legs is why such long
spurs were used in this time period. It is similar to
the lancer's saddle (included picture in the reference
of a real one) but with a shorter pommel than cantle
to not interfere with a bow.

The chainmail, used extensively in this time period,
is hand crafted and from stainless steel wire. The
armor is fully lined, with Rio Rondo buckles and real
sterling silver keepers.

This is The Rose Bowl parade set. It consists of a sidesaddle parade saddle, pad, serape, hip drape with crupper, breastcollar, bridle and the Rose Bowl Queen rider doll. (Not shown is the Rose Bowl Princess, meant to walk beside the horse)

Each teardrop-shaped drop, the sandwich case and the bit shanks are all completely hand-sculpted from scratch with a tiny rose and are real, pure silver.
All of the leather is colored white (a very difficult task!). The saddle also features many stamped roses.
The silver is hand-tooled and has many rose cut-outs with irridescent silver set inside to highlight the roses.
The reins feature tiny irridescent beads.
The doll's outfit features irridescent glitter and sequins. She has matching irridescent earrings and hatband, and her outfit is completed with a sash. Her dress is all leather, colored white. This set is owned by Krista Wasco. Model pictured is by Kirsten Wellman.

Close-ups of the Rose Bowl parade set.

This is a CM Lonesome Glory remade to a trotting Saddlebred. Both the horse and the tack are by Tiffany.