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Hartland Pastel Color Nativity Sets |
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| Markings Code: (A)=Diamond I, (B)=Hartland Molded, Hartland Wisc., (C)= Hartland Plastics Inc, Hartland Wisc., (NM)= Not Marked | ||||
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13 Piece "Pastel" Color Set
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| 13 Piece Pastel Color Nativity Set: This set is still a bit of a mystery. We don't know exactly when it was produced, nor whether it was a standard full production year. They are not scarce, but not as common as the Standard Color set or the Bright Color set. My set was purchased on eBay a couple of years without a box, and it had a bright colored Camel Keeper. Interestingly, another set showed up on eBay a while after I bought mine and it also had the bright color Camel Keeper. The pastel version of that piece obviously exists, and I managed to find one loose to "correct" my set. |
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| Normally, the larger box says "Exquisitely Hand Decorated" just under the "Unbreakable" line, but that obviously wouldn't prevent it from serving Hartland's needs for a smaller set without the stable. The smaller boxes are only 11" x 14" x 3.5". A boxed set sold on eBay in January of 2005 which had an Angel and one lying down sheep and lamb. That set included the pastel Camel Keeper. | ||||
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| After about 40 years, the cape on Joseph is dark metallic copper on this set instead of bright red or brown. Sande Schneider suggests the cape may have originally been gold that has turned to the dark metallic color. Hard to say! Mary is basically the same as before and the Infant Christ has painted flesh tones on the face, arms, and legs. All three figures have light brown hair. The beard and hair on the Three Wise Men are the same as the Bright Colored set, with beautifully rich pastel paint colors used on the robes. | ||||
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| The blanket on the Camel is light turquoise green, with metallic gold trim. The Three Shepherds have distinctively different color schemes from any previous set, however they also have the light brown hair. The horn playing Shepherd is actually similar to the Bright Color horn player, but this one has light turquoise on the inside of the cape and the other figure has bright green. | ||||
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| Both the Donkey and the Bull paint schemes let more white plastic show through than earlier sets. The bull has more of a "palomino" color than before. The Donkey is lighter in color and has a white blaze, similar to the first Donkeys in the Soft Color sets. (Sande Schneider reports her donkey does not have a white blaze) | ||||
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Clues, Mysteries and Praises
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| The paint masks needed to produce a Pastel set are almost identical to the Bright Color set. The boots on the shepherds are a good example. Basically, all Hartland had to do was change out the colors used in each area. Knowing that, I suspect this set was produced either right after the Bright Color set, or even at the same time. While I have no evidence, it is at least worth mentioning now. During 1958, Dale Evans is shown in the yearly Dealer Catalog in the normal green outfit, however, a mail order business called General Merchandise sold a Purple Dale in their catalog for the same year. Similar to what appears to be the case with Dale Evans, Hartland may have produced a special color scheme for one of its better distributors.
Sequencing and dating these sets probably won't keep "many" people awake, but is fun to try using such limited information. I think Hartland was at the top of their game when they painted this set. It is my favorite of the Nativity Sets! To suit my own needs, I have been able to create a 21 piece set and now store it away each year in a box, angel, and stable I "grave robbed" from another set. I suspect other Nativity set collectors have been doing the same. |
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Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2008 |
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This page last modified
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I have not been able to inspect the splotchy Angel, but the new owner says the pait matches the color of the ribbon and edges of the wings. Why the splotchy gold paint? The boxed 15 piece set had been marked 20 P - 74 and 16.95. The latter was the price and the 20 P probably indicated it was a 20 piece set at one time. Again, it only had one ewe/lamb combo piece at the time of the auction.