GILNER FIGURINES
Gilner figurines, with their winsome "pixie" expressions, can be found in a variety of poses and colors. The basic Gilner colors include red, dark green, maroon, chartreuse-yellow, and sometimes in a true yellow. A true figurine is just that: a free-standing figurine or shelf-sitter! Figurines in many of the familiar poses can be found attached to a number of planters, wall pockets, and other items. Some of the same figurine molds were also used to produce salt and pepper shaker sets; the shakers being distinguished from figurines, of course, by the holes in the top of the head.
All Gilner figurines have the charming dimples and their easily-identified pixie hat of overlapping leaves in the same color as their costume. Female Gilner Pixies, called "Merry Maids", wear an obvious dress, often with a square neckline. Male Gilner Pixies, called "Happy People", were designed in several different styles of distinctive clothing. For purposes of identification, the costumes are referred to as follows:
Style #1: Bow Tie
Style #2: Pointed Collar
Price ranges for figurines vary according to the pose; those with fragile extended arms or legs priced higher along with those in poses most often damaged due to instability and a tendency to "topple"! Shelf-sitters also tend to show signs of damage as they can be easily knocked off the edge of shelves. Check out the
Tips for protecting "Shelf-Sitters"!Top prices should be paid only for those figurines which have no chips, dings, missing paint or any repairs. Care should be taken to examine arms, legs and necks for tell-tale repairs. Condition of the bisque-like faces and hands should be free of any grime which cannot be easily removed with a soft, barely-damp cloth. Prices for repaired or damaged Gilner (or those by any manufacturer, for that matter) figurines should not be more than 25% of that paid for one in excellent condition. Barring the ability to find Gilner figurines in some of the more unusual or rare poses, sometimes purchasing a slightly damaged one for a collection is just fine - provided, of course, that you realize they may not have any re-sale value. (We have a number of Gilner Pixies who have obviously encountered the ravages of time over the past 50+ years - they are still endearing and continue to have a place amongst the rest)!
Thanks to Mark & Harry, avid Gilner Pixie collectors, we now have new and exciting information from the Gilner Potteries catalogs (1951 & 1953) - particularly regarding "The Happy People." We are including much of that information below and will be updating other Gilner sections soon.
"The Happy People"...
"From California's wooded hills come "the happy people", bringing light-hearted charm and good fortune to all in whose home they live. Their sparkling joviality has made them famous as a most desirable gift." (As re-printed from the 1951 Gilner Potteries Catalog).
From the 1951 Gilner catalog we find that there were 9 "Happy People" (boy Pixies) and 8 "Merry Maids" (girl Pixies) available. The 1951 poses are identified below. By 1953, there were 13 "Happy People" and 9 "Merry Maid" poses. In addition, 1953 brought about the "Sweetheart" (kissing) Pixies. Both the "Happy People" and "Merry Maids" were available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red (1951). Maroon appears to have been discontinued by the 1953 catalog. A 1955 Gilner catalog shows both in primarily the pink, turquoise and red colors.
NOTE: The code numbers and quotations below are taken from the Gilner catalogs. Complete listing not yet finished - we'll add more soon!
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"Merry Maid" M-109, Series A
"Happy People" M-108, Series A
Maroon Gilner Standing Pixies, one a "Merry Maid" and the other a "Happy People". Relatively hard-to-find pose. Shown in 1951 catalog; available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. Appears in 1953 catalog, but only available in green, red and chartreuse. Hard to find in mint condition as they can topple, but not as easily as the Standing Pixie above. Note the different style of base of this pair which gives them more stability. Photographed from my original collection.
Green Standing "Happy People"
M-108, Series B
Green Gilner "Happy People" in unusual, hard-to-find standing position, bent at the waist. "Pointed Collar" clothing. Hard to find in mint condition as this one topples over easily. This pose found in both the 1951 & 1953 catalogs, available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. Photographed from my original collection.
M-109, Series B
Green Gilner "Merry Maid; hard-to-find standing position, bent at the waist. Shown in 1951 catalog; available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. Also appears in the 1953 Gilner Catalog; available in red, green and chartreuse. Hard to find in mint condition as this one topples over easily. Photograph by unknown person - if this is your picture, please let me know so I can give you credit as some of my files were lost when being transferred to new computer. Sorry!
"Merry Maid M-109, Series C
"Happy People" M-108, Series C
"Happy People" and "Merry Maid" stretch to touch toes with their hands. Shown in 1951 catalog as available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. 1953 catalog indicates only available in green, chartreuse and red. Photographed from my original collection.
"Happy People"
M-108, Series D
Maroon Pixie in "squatting" position. Shown in 1951 Gilner catalog; available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. Shown in 1953 catalog as available only in green, chartreuse and red. "Pointed Collar" clothing. Photographed from my original collection.
"Merry Maids"
M-109, Series D
Two Gilner "Merry Maids" in sitting position, with knees up. Shown in the 1951 Gilner catalog; available in chartreuse, green, maroon and red. Not shown in 1953 catalog. Photographed from my original collection.
"Merry Maid" M-109, Series F
"Happy People" M-108, Series F
Gilner "Merry Maid and "Happy People" laying on their stomachs with chin in hands. Shown in 1951 Gilner catalog; available in green, chartreuse, maroon and red. No longer shown in 1953 catalog. Photographed from my original collection.
"Merry Maids"
M-109, Series H
Two Gilner "Merry Maids" in kneeling position. Shown in 1951 Gilner catalog; available in chartreuse, green, maroon and red. Not shown in 1953 catalog. Photographed from my original collection.
"Happy People"
M-108, Series K
Gilner "Happy People" in kneeling position with hands at chin. Shown only in the 1953 Gilner catalog; available in green, chartreuse and red. Photograph by unknown person - if this is your picture, please let me know so I can give you credit as some of my files were lost when being transferred to new computer. Sorry!
M-108, Series L
Dark Green Gilner Pixie Figurine in a great sitting position, with legs stretched out in front. Wearing the "Bow Tie" clothing. Unmarked. This pose found in only the 1953 catalog, available in green, chartreuse and red. Photograph sent in by Donna of New York! Thank you Donna for this great photo of a different pose!
"Happy People"
M-108, Series N
Dark Green Gilner "Happy People" standing on his head. Shown only in 1953 catalog; available in chartreuse, green and red. Pixie standing on his head is extremely hard to find in mint condition due to easy toppling! Can also be found in red. "Bow Tie" clothing. Photographed from my original collection.
"Happy People"
M-108, Series O
Gilner "Happy People" in a very acrobatic position! Shown only in 1953 catalog; available green, chartreuse and red. Photographed from my original collection.
Gilner "Happy People"
M-108, Series Q
Green Gilner "Happy People" Pixie lying on back with hands behind head. Shown only in 1953 catalog; available in green, chartreuse and red. "Bow Tie" clothing. Incised mark: "Gilner" on bottom. Photographed from my original collection.
"Happy People"
Dark Green Gilner Pixie Figurines sit with hands behind back; a green one and one in the mid-50's color of pink! Shown only in the 1953 Gilner catalog; available in green, chartreuse and red. Listed also in the 1955 Gilner catalog as available only in pink, turquoise and red... But check out the photo below which shows "WHY" the hands are hidden behind. A great, charming extra little touch! Photographs from Sandy at "Empty Clown Collectibles".
"Happy People"
Unknown date
Red Gilner Standing "Happy People" with attached Base. Hard-to-find standing position, bent at the waist. Does not appear in either the 1951 or 1953 Gilner Catalog - still a mystery piece! "Pointed Collar" clothing. Note that this version has an attached base which would certainly lessen the potential damage from the "toppling" which occurs with the one above! Do you think they added base after finding out they fell over too easily??? Photograph from Kristin's collection.
"The Sweethearts"
"These shy, "happy people" from the wooded land of the fantastic forest 'love to be loved." Bashful as they are, they have come to join their kinfolks and make a 'sweetheart' of a profit for you".
(As printed in the 1953 Gilner Catalog).
M-159B
Gilner Pixie "Sweethearts" shelf-sitters can be difficult to find in mint condition. Shown in the 1953 Gilner catalog; available in red, green and chartreuse. Photograph from Sandy at "Empty Clown Collectibles"!
"Mighty Maurice"
M-155
This "Shelf Sitter" with the outstretched arms was actually named "Mighty Maurice" and his function was to hold pot holders, the tabs of the holders looped over his two arms! "Bow Tie" clothing. "Mighty Maurice" is listed in the 1953 Gilner Catalog and came in green, yellow and red. While not actually created as one of the "Happy People", we are still including him in this section as he is certainly considered as one of the Gilner figurines to collectors today (you'll find him listed in our "Kitchen" section, too). NOTE: Arms and feet can easily be broken off as shown in this example! Photographed from my original collection of "time-ravaged" Gilner figurines.
NOTE: More
Gilner Pixie Figurines can be found
on the upcoming "Pixie Watch" CD.
Also included
are Gilner figural planters, wall pockets, kitchen items and much more!
Send
us an email if you wish to be notified when the "Pixie
Watch" CD is available!
This page last edited 0721/04
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