Disney MCP Figurines

2011-08-07T23:26:00.001-07:00

Here's the Evan K Shaw version of Donald Duck in his boat. The MCP version is quite diofferent and a better sculpt in my opinion.

2010-12-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

An absolutely breathtaking Joe Carioca from Zaccagnini. If you're wondering what to get me for Christmas, this will do nicely.

2010-12-08T04:35:00.000-08:00

Can anyone help to identify this Scamp figurine from "Lady & The Tramp" ?

He stand at about 6 inches high and is marked on the base "Fantasia" in blue and with a circular "Walt Disney Productions". He may be a Zaccagnini or may have been made by another company in Spain. Mysterious and cute!

2010-11-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

This absolutely delightful figurine of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland was seen recently on Ebay and sold for well over US$3,000! What financial crisis, I hear you say?

Zaccagnini figures are the rarest of the rare and exquisitely beautiful. Pictures of them are hard to come by so as I find them I will start adding them to the site. I haven't had any new finds with MCP recently, but have noticed prices continuing to rise on Ebay.

2009-12-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most exquisite MCP pieces. Donald Duck in his motorboat stands at about 6 inches tall. This is a vase or planter, and the only one I have seen with a sticker. This was produced only in Australia.

2009-12-10T00:14:00.001-08:00

The March Hare from "Alice in Wonderland". Not sure of the height but this is the MCp version.

2009-12-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

Quite the most odd representation of Figaro, but indeed and MCP product, exclusive to the Australian range. About 4 inches high and very rare.

2009-12-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's two versions of Minnie Mouse. The one on the left was produced by both MCP and it's Americna counterpats, while the planter or posy vase on the right appears to be an exclusive to Australia and has the MCP sticker. Both are very rare!

2009-12-06T22:15:00.000-08:00

Lasty night an MCP sculpture of the Owl from "So Dear To My Heart" sold on ebay for over AU$1,000.

I think this might set a record for an MCP piece, as it's the highest I have ever seen one sell for. It'
s also the first time I have ever seen the owl listed on ebay.

The piece was stickered which always makes a difference to the price.

Here is a link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120496112729&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

2009-11-17T00:03:00.000-08:00

Two different versions of Mickey Mouse. The one on the left was also made my Evan Shaw/ American pottery and the one on the right my be exclusive to MCP. It may also be Morty, one of Mickey's nephews used in licencing in the 1950's, and not Mickey, but I haven't seen him with the sticker to know for sure.

2009-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

Finally a picture of Tramp with the MCP sticker, sent in by a reader. This Trampo has a nice colour scheme, some I have seen looked very sloppy and cheap indeed, prompting me to always think they were Japanese and not MCP.

2009-07-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

This image of an MCP Lady from "Lady and the Tramp" was sent in by George Young. it is the first time I've ever seen it, thanks George!

2009-06-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

The standing Bambi was manufacture by both MCP and Evan Shaw. He stands about 6 inches high and is most frequently found with repaired legs, as they are quite thin. Finding an intact one is not too difficult as this figurine seems to turn up on Ebay most frequently.

2009-06-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Yet another colourway in the Bambi series of wall vases, this one featuring Thumper.

Tramp

2009-06-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

Tramp from the 1954 film "Lady and the Tramp", my favourite Disney film. I have passed this figurine over thinking it was too sloppily made to be MCP, and I could kick myself now, as I have since seen him with a sticker selling for very high prices!!

I am assuming there must have been a Lady as his companion piece, but I have never seen her.

2009-06-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

Minnie Mouse was made both here and in the USA and comes complete with broom and apron, because a 50's housewife needed no other accessories!

2009-06-05T22:32:00.000-07:00

This charming Mickey Mouse stands at around 4 inches in height and comes in several different paint applications (I guess the factory went thru alot of painters in its day). He is holding abunch of flowers for his sweetheart. This figurine was also produced in the USA.

2009-06-05T22:30:00.003-07:00

MCP did a version of The Mad Hatter similar to the US version. I am ot sure of the size difference, but I think the Australian version stands at around 5 inches high, and there is also a March Hare.

2009-06-05T22:30:00.001-07:00

This Dumbo with a hat was available through Evan Shaw and also turned up as part of the MCP range in Australia.

2009-06-05T22:29:00.001-07:00

A cute little Flower vase that uses the same sculpt as those used for the wall vases.

Wall Masks

2009-06-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

There is a mysterious set of wall masks/plaques that occasionally turn up and are attributed to MCP. I have never seen them with an identifying sticker, but they do turn up in Australia.

2009-06-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

Panchito is a charming figurine from the 1944 Disney film "The Three Caballeros". He stands at about 5 inches high and comes ins everal different colour variations.

2009-06-05T22:18:00.001-07:00

Gus and Jaq, the two mice from Cinderella, stand at about 4 inches high.

Ugly Cinderella

2009-06-05T22:15:00.001-07:00

This ugly Cinderella stands at about 6 inches high. This is exceptionally rare, and I have also seen here with gold stars painted on the dress. Not a good representation of the character and also Australian only, as far as I know.

2009-06-05T22:11:00.001-07:00

Tweedledee and Tweedledum were available from MCP but I am not sure if their was a height difference between the US and Australian versions. Exceptionally rare, I have seen them sell for AU$600 a pair!

2009-06-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Figaro stands at about three inches high and is one of the more often seen characters in the MCP range. he was also available in the USA as part of the Evan Shaw range.

2009-06-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Two small Bambi figurines measuring about three inches in height. Produced by MCP and also to the best of my knowledge available in the USA.

2009-06-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

Standing at around five inches high this Bambi vase bears an MCP mark imprinted on it's underside, and the distinctive painting of the other Bambi figurines in the range. It is a bit of a stretch to consider this one "Disneyish".

Peter Pan's Wendy

2009-06-05T21:53:00.001-07:00

Though not a good likeness for the character of Wendy from Disney's Peter Pan, this naive figurine was still part of the MCP range. I am not sure of it's measurements nor if it was reproduced in the US or elsewhere. I also don't know if other figurines from Peter Pan were produced.

2009-02-10T00:33:00.000-08:00

My favourite of all the MCP figurines was the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Five inches high and also produced in the USA.

2009-02-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

Thumper (in grey) and his girlfriend Blossom(the blonde on the left) were produced in America and Australia.

These figurines measure about three inches high each and were among the more popular and therefore more common today.

I don't believe she was referred to as Blossom in the film but Disney may have invented the name for mechandising purposes. The newspaper advertisement is from the USA. $3.00 Each!

2009-02-09T23:57:00.000-08:00

......and another!Just how many different colours and combinations of the wall vases were produced we may never know!

Bambi's Flower Pink Shell Wall Vase

2008-12-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Here's another variation on the seemingly endless variety of Bambi wall vases that turn up from MCP.This one features Flower inside a pink shell.Others I have seen have featured Flower,Thumper,and a very rare Snow White.The entire item stands about 5 inches tall.Some have holes in the rear for hanging,others do not.

2008-10-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

Here's some close-up shots of one of the Zaccagnini Dumbo figurines.The painted finish is less glossy than the MCP figurines by the looks of things.They often had a sticker reading "COLLEZIONE Disney" on them and all should bear the handpainted "Z" with a little line through it.Very very rare and yet two have shown up on ebay this week!A beautiful little figure that I hope to own one day!

2008-10-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

This teeny tiny image is the only proof I've been able to find of the dumbo trio by Zaccagnini.

Indeed it appears that MCP reproduced both the midle one and the baby on the right.

1948 "So Dear To My Heart" Owl

2008-08-17T04:57:00.000-07:00

In 1948 Disney released a combination live action and animation feature called "So Dear to my Heart".

The character of the wise owl is little seen in merchnadise form,here he is in a cel from the film.
And here he is in ceramic form,beautifully hand-painted and sculpted,made in Australia by MCP.
He wasnt made in the USA and I have only ever seen one of these figurines in my life.Exceptionally rare!He's shown below for size comparison with the MCP Dumbo (that was also produced by Leonardi).The owl stands about 5 inches high and is in my opinion the best of the MCP sculpts.

Lady and the Tramp Plate Series

2008-08-17T04:52:00.000-07:00

These two are part of a series of plates from the 1950's of designs celebrating Disney's "Lady and the Tramp".

They are quite common here in Australia and in appearance very similar to the plates featuring the famous Brownie Downing pictures.Not sure who produced them,or if they were made in Australia or Japan,but they were obviously popular enough back then to turn up in many different designs.Exceptionally cute !

Mickey and Minnie Mouse,Childless Couple

2008-08-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

This wonderful planter/vase has Minnie pushing a pram.

Although Mickey and Minnie married,they didnt have children.Mickey,like Donald,had only nephews to take care of.

This one is most likely MCP,it looks like it, but may even be Japanese.

Baby Dumbo

2008-08-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous baby Dumbo is exclusive to the MCP range and is about three inches tall,shown for size comparison below.

Donald Duck and ships wheel

2008-08-17T04:29:00.000-07:00

This is around 7 inches tall and one of the nicest of the MCP range.It was not produced outisde of Australia,and highly sought after int he USA now.Bright colours and a great pose!

There are several Donald figurines in the range.

Pluto and Doghouse Planter

2008-08-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

This Pluto and Doghouse,intended as a vase or planter,is one of the rarest of the MCP range.

The doghouse is new but the body of Pluto is based on this figurine of Bruno,the dog from "Cinderella",which is itself just a repaint of yet another Shaw produced Pluto.

Pluto

2008-08-17T04:12:00.000-07:00

Pluto comes in several forms.In this first picture,the middle pose is exclusive to MCP to the best of my knowledge.The other poses were from the Evan Shaw range and alos made by MCP.

This crouching Pluto is also Australian in origin as far as I know.The red paint of his collar is almost always miussing as it was applied cold after the glaze had cooled.

Figaro

2008-08-17T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be the cat Figaro from Disney's "Pinocchio" of 1942.

Although it bears a strong resemblance to other figures of Figaro in the range(MCP did at least one other),the face looks nothing like him and this one had no identifying sticker.Jury is still out on this one for me.Nevertheless he recently sold at auction for $500!!

2008-08-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

This is an ad from a 1940s Disney catalogue from the Leonardi company which I just found via Hakes,the auction house.

The Dumbo figurine in the bottom left was also made as part of the MCP range and is one of the most common to turn up,he must have been very popular.Who knows where these designs originated and ended up!

The small chipmunk at top left also turns up in Australia,but I assumed it was not a Disney character because the ones I have seen have had the most appalling paint jobs and sloppy molding.I think it is supposed to be a chipmunk from "Snow White".I've picked it up several times at markets and been unable to decide what it was,and promptly put it back!

Lulubelle

2008-08-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

This is Lulubelle,the girlfriend of Bongo.

Litttle seen in merchandise form,she was also not produced in the USA to my knowledge.It is easy to see how you may walk past this in a junk shop or market and think she's just another piece of mass-produced 50's kitsch(which is really what they are,kind of)

Bongo the Wonder Bear

2008-08-17T03:42:00.000-07:00

"Fun and Fancy Free" was originally released in American cinemas on 27 September 1947 after the war.It featured a collection of short films connected by short Jiminy Cricket introductions to each cartoon.,one of which is "Bongo".

Bongo is a unicycle riding, tightrope walking, juggling circus bear who escapes from the circus into the forest where he meets a lovely lady bear,Lulubelle.The much later Hanna Barbera characters of Yogi Bear and his girllfriend Cindy owe a little to these designs,in my opinion.

This figurine wasnt produced in the USA to my knowledge,and stands roughly six inches tall.I have yet to be able to nab one,he is very quickly snapped up on ebay.Note the sticker is identical to the Evan Shaw sticker just re-worded.

Disneyana in Australia

2008-08-17T03:08:00.000-07:00

The MCP Company,or Modern Ceramic Products,operated a factory in the working-class inner western suburb of Sydney called Marrickville from 1946 until 1957.

Marrickville,and the inner west,were then a hub of commercial activity and a destination for many post-war migrants who settled there on arrival in Australia.Many were employed in the factories,bringing European know-how to the ceramics industry there.Marrickville was home to MCP,the Diana Pottery company,and Studio Anna.Nearby in Belmore just a few train stops away Pates Pottery was located.

Nowadays these suburbs have undergone typical inner-city gentrification and you will not find a great deal of locally made products.All of the ceramics factories are long gone.

I do not know how MCP came to acquire a licence to produce Disney collectibles.What is clear is that they must have purchased molds that had already changed hands a couple of times in the USA.

The range of figurines made by Disney had already been produced by American Pottery,Metlox,and the Evan K.Shaw factories.The figurines were never backstamped as was the common practice of the day.Instead,they carried a simple silver sticker identifying the character name and the company name.

MCP however seem to have either made an unproduced series from existing molds, or made their own.There are quite a few of the range made exclusively for the Australian market.They were not exported,therefore highly sought after by collectors in the USA and elsewhere today.

The stickers washed off or fell off over the years which means alot of the time the figurines turn up unidentified.This can mean you may find them listed on ebay incorrectly and you may just nab a bargain.I have picked up several MCP figurines on ebay and in antique stores for less than $10 and later sold for hundreds more.

Happy Hunting!

2008-08-17T02:52:00.000-07:00