In Spring 2006, Gerry Bowman introduced “Feng Shui” Golden Miniatures, a series of special run pieces sold only through her online store, Little-Shoppe. The line consisted of current-mold Miniature animals overlaid with 24-karat gold to represent the Chinese art of Feng Shui. As the website stated,
“Feng Shui is an ancient art of arranging your surroundings to attract positive life energy so that it flows smoothly, unblocking any obstructions in your body and environment. Feng Shui evolved from the theory that people are affected for better or worse by their surroundings.”
The Feng Shui Golden Miniatures each represented an aspect of good health or good fortune, and these were mentioned in their descriptions. For example, the Golden Crab: “The crab represents speed, agility and quicksilver thinking…For anyone in the midst of career success or scholarly pursuits.”
Eventually, there were 22 Golden Miniatures, four Golden Specialties horses, and three additional pieces that were not gold-plated but complemented the line. No doubt to please the clientele, horses were overrepresented in the Feng Shui line. Prices ranged from $9.75 for the little Golden Koi to $42.50 for the Golden (Specialties) Skywalker.
About a year after the Feng Shui pieces were released, Hagen-Renaker owner Sue Nikas remarked that the price of gold had gone so high, she did not intend to produce any more gold-plated Miniatures. Little-Shoppe continued to sell the remaining pieces for several years until the stock was sold out.
This is a complete list of the Feng Shui Golden Miniatures. All were produced in 2006.
FS33291 (A-3329) Golden Sitting Cat
FS40041 (A-4004) Golden Boxing Cat
FS8471 (A-8471) Golden Pig
FS30631 (A-3063) Golden Afghan
FS33431 (A-3343) Golden Greyhound
FS821 (A-82) Golden Poodle
FS-20391 (A-2039) Golden Rooster
FS40031 (A-4003) Hen with Golden Eggs
Note: The Hen was the regular run color (white); only the eggs were gold plated.
FS1891 (A-189) Golden Papa Deer
FS2022 (A-202) Golden Mama Deer
FS2631 (A-263) Golden Elephant
FS40051 (A-010) Golden Seabiscuit
FS2351 (A-235) Golden Colt
FS2049 (A-2049) Golden Arabian Horse
FS33491 (A-3349) Golden Stallion
FS3360 (A-3360) Golden Pony Colt
FS3362 (A-3362) Golden Crab
FS3377 (A-3377) Golden Koi
FS9651 (A-965) Golden Dolphin
FS3442 (A-344) Golden Frog
FS3442K (A-344) Golden Frog Prince
FS33211 (A-332) Golden Turtle
FS33571 (A-3357) Running Horse One
FS33572 (A-3357) Running Horse Two
FS33573 (A-3357) Running Horse Three
Note: The horses from the Specialties piece A-3357, “Three Wild Horses,” were made as single, freestanding Feng Shui pieces.
FS32841 (A-3284) Golden Skywalker
The following three pieces were not gold-plated:
FS3321 (A-479 and A-332) Two Turtles
Note: This consists of A-479 (Box Turtle Baby) standing on the shell of A-332 (Coin Turtle), both in the normal green color.
“Su” Chinese Girl (Black hair, blue or yellow outfit and hair bows)
“Le” Chinese Boy (Black hair, blue or yellow outfit and bird)
Notes: The issue price of “Su” and “Le” was $70 each.