Trying to Identify A Maker (1 Viewer)

[KaylaG]

I apologize, I am new to the forum and to antique toys. I may be posting in the wrong place but I am looking for help identifying a frontiersman I recently located. He's fairly ornate. Please see attached pictures. He has a small label that I think may be from the 70's or 80's on the base but it's very hard to make out the writing. I think I can read American Frontier Limited Edition but the line in the middle I can't read. Does anyone recognize this guy or know where I could get additional information on him?

Thanks,
K.G.

 

[theBaron]

Not trying to be a smart-aleck, but have you tried any web searches? It would help to know where you may already have looked.

I ran a search just now on "american fronter limited edition" which returned a lot of hits, but not this figure. The first hit returned, though, was for an artist, David Wright, and his website. He does have a series called "American Frontier", and I thought this figure might be based on one of his paintings, but I didn't see one that matches. Though, not all of the items in the catalog loaded as images, and I didn't take the time to open each one to look. The page for his American Frontier paintings is https://davidwrightart.com/product-category/american-frontier/

I do think that your figure is based on a painting, and I think your figure was produced by one of the "instant collectible" manufacturers like Franklin Mint or Danbury Mint, someone along those lines. It's not from the Franklin Mint, though, because their pieces are generally marked with an identifier like "FM" and the copyright year.

How tall is the figure, from the sole of his left or back foot, to the top of his head, without the wolf's head, roughly?

That's pretty much what I come up with, off the top of my head.

Prost!
Brad

 

[KaylaG]

I google lensed him and found an exact match but it was an ebay seller who was calling him a Russian toy soldier. I don't think that makes sense given the "American Frontier" on his base. He's right at about 6" from the bottom of his foot to the tip of the wolf ears. I did google American Frontier Limited Edition but it was returning all manner of toys and makers. I did go down the rabbit hole with John Jenkins and looked at almost every one of his collections until I finally got frustrated and reached directly out to his company for help. He stated that it was not one of his but directed me to this forum where he noted there were a number of experts who might be able to assist. I do see a painting that is similar of David Wright's. It's called Bent's Fort Arrival. On the base of the figure there is a line in the middle between American Frontier and Limited Edition but I can't quite make it out. It looks like a couple letters and a date but with the sticker being somewhat aged I need a better way of zooming up on it. I've tried my phone camera in a variety of light but given how small it is the camera has a hard time focusing. It does appear that there is a 7 stamped in the base. It's very faint. I was able to take a rubbing with pencil to see it clearly.

 

[KaylaG]

I just tracked down one with the original "Made in" sticker. It lists both Monroe, Michigan and China. I'm thinking it's from around 1988. I just emailed the company that's listed on the matching figure to see if I could get additional information, assuming this manufacturer has anyone who can speak to it.