COMMERCIAL FIGURINES - SPECIAL INFORMATION
Many Sebastian figurines were created for businesses and other organizations. These were often done as promotional items, incentives, awards, for sale in specific gift shops or similar purposes. Often these items were modified for inclusion in the regular Sebastian line and sometimes even used for a different "commercial" purpose.In identifying items as "commercial," we recognize only figurines that were produced exclusively for a specific organization, group, occasion or other special purpose. Such figurines were not usually designed or intended for general distribution except perhaps as a fundraising promotion. They have been used as an incentive, award, premium, advertising campaign, fundraising event or similar program, activity or event. In other words, there is a broad range of possibilities. The key word here is "exclusive."
For example, the first two figurines made by P. W. Baston were the Amish Couple. These were designed for a gift shop in Woburn, Massachusetts and were sold initially only at that location in early 1938. However, they later became (without modification) part of the regular line of Sebastian figurines and were widely sold. These are NOT considered Commercial Figurines.
In many cases, an individual or company recommended that a specific figurine be designed and may have sold these. However, unless the figurine was designed to be distributed exclusively by that individual or organization, it is not deemed to be a "commercial" figurine.
The many figurines, medallions and similar items designed for fairs and festivals are not included within this classification although they were made for a specific event and their initial distribution may have been to the attendees. Similarly, items made for for the Sebastian Miniature Collectors Society or the Sebastian Exchange are not placed in this category. However, you will find special indexes for all of these categories.
Figurines made for the Masons and Eastern Star are numerous and have indices of their own as well.
Most of these "commercial" figurines were produced from 1951 to 1968 when about 140 designs were produced, about 70% of all of the Sebastian figurines designed during this period. A few were produced earlier than this.
An extreme example of multiple versions of a single basic design is the Shoemaker - SML-292(A-G). This design was originally produced as a commercial figurine in 1958 for the National Bank of Plymouth County (of Massachusetts). The name of the bank was inscribed on the base and only 400 pieces were produced. The same year, an additional 250 of the identical figurine were produced for the Brockton branch of that same bank with a corresponding inscription. Several other banks ordered this same figurines. The Haverhill National Bank had a pen stand incorporated into the design with the name of its bank on the base, ordering 1,000. The First County National Bank ordered 250 customized versions. Two executives of the International Shoe Company of St. Louis, MO ordered their own versions as pen stands; these became the "Rand" and the "Ewing" versions with only 100 of each produced. Over a period of several years, Prescott Baston made thousands of Shoemaker figurines with a plain base as well; these are by far the most common versions encountered today.
Many are rare and highly sought after, not only because they are Sebastian figurines but because of their association with particular organizations or industries. In some cases, only a handful of figurines were made making them virtually impossible to find. These have sold at auction for over $1,000. Any figurine made in quantities of 100 or less is classified as "rare."
Because so many figurines were made for the Masons and Eastern Star over a period of many years, these are listed separately.
Other items produced for the Sebastian Miniatures Collectors Society and the Sebastian Exchange. These include many medallions. These also appear in lists of their own.
You may view any of these specialized lists by clicking on an item below.
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Revised: May 26, 2000