The Tudor Mint Ltd.
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The Tudor Mint is a collectables designer and maker based in Shirley, Solihull and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Watson Group Ltd., their range consists mainly of dark, antique styled collectables including the best selling Dragon range called Myth and Magic. The products are all hand painted and are usually finished usually with gold or silver plating which produces either a dark gothic effect (Myth and Magic) or brighter effect (Crystal Mementos).
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[edit] History
The Tudor Mint Ltd. was formed in 1989 and began making the first studies in the Myth and Magic collection in the same year, the range started with twelve designs and more have been made over the years.
The company also produces figures from The Lord of the Rings and several chess sets. Previous ranges that the Tudor Mint have produced have included The Hobbit Collection, The Arthurian Legend, (based on the Tales of King Arthur and including a set of all the Knights of the round table), Dark Secrets (a much darker range of skeletons and demons), and 'pewter effect' eggs that range from whimsical figures to Myth and Magic based eggs and a range of Zodiac eggs. In addition they have produced 'Spellbound'; "hand painted figurines with a combination of pewter, the finest full-lead crystal and cold-cast materials" as the brochure described them.
[edit] The Collectors Club
The Tudor Mint have run a collectors club since May 1989. Members of this club receive an exclusive yearly study that is not released on general sale. In addition they are able to purchase two 'members only' studies each year. Again, these do not go onto general sale. Members also receive two editions of the club magazine 'The Methtindour Times' (Methtintdour being an anagram of The Tudor Mint, created by the original magazine editor Allan Frost). There is also a yearly 'Extravaganza' show organised by the company where up to 1200 collectors attend to view new designs, purchase the one yearly off 'Extravanaganza study' as well as enter competitions to win rare and prototype versions of the studies. In addition, traders of the ranges are able to display and sell their products.
[edit] Products
[edit] Myth and Magic
Myth and Magic products are "studies" of medieval figures and characters from English folklore, made from metal, (commonly mistaken for 'Pewter'), and detailed in antique, silver plate metal embellished with genuine crystals. The "studies" generally consist of Dragons and Wizards, the Dragons are generally shown defending the crystal whilst the wizards are sometimes shown fighting each other or the dragons. Other mythical creatures that have been incorporated into the collection are include Unicorns and birds.
The collection includes other styles in which the same design principles have been adapted to include motorbikes in what is know as the Bikers Club range. Another range called Easy Riders is similar to the Bikers Club range but these resin studies are brightly painted.
[edit] Spellbound
Launched in the 1990s, this range consisted of 24 studies. Each study was a limited edtion of only 3,500 pieces with each piece being hand numbered. They were retired quite quickly, as the range did not sell as expected.
[edit] Land of the Dragons
A range of resin figures under the collective title of The Land of the Dragons have also been launched. These highly detailed studies now form a major part of the range. They differ from the original range in both materials and colour. The resin material also allows for elaborate colours to be used in the final stage of manufacturing (hand painting) with oranges, blues, yellows and reds the most often used colours this creates an overall brighter "study". The Land of the Dragon range has been expanded and now includes resin studies that are complete with crystal, as in the Myth and Magic range.
[edit] Crystal Mementos
In 2004 another range was launched, which combined the fine metal work of the pewter studies with the highly coloured decoration of the Land of the Dragons. This range contains the 'Fauna and Flora' collection of animals, as well as the 'Dreams of Fantasy' collection containing the now familiar dragons theme.
[edit] Eye of the Temple
Combining aspects of the Maya, Aztec, Inca and Egyptian stories of their Gods and Godesses, this range of 24 studies along with the 'Temple of Maazineg' (combining the initial letters of the civilisations) featured a large eye within each study. Studies include Osiris (Egytpian), Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), and the Bat God (Maya).
[edit] Bearing Crystal
Currently a range of 12 bears, made in a similar way to the Crystal Mementos range, and each containing several small crystals.
[edit] Magic Moments
Launched in 2006, this collection continued with the theme of dragons, but presented them in smooth curving lines. The range is currently limited to six pieces.
[edit] Fan Sites
There are several websites that have been set up to allow collectors of the studies to find out more information about the studies, or chat to other collectors. Dragonsmagic is a community noticeboard for collectors to leave messages for each other. The Myth and Magic messageboard, run by the World Collectors Net is a similar site. Perhaps the most comprehensive site is DragonsCavern, offering images and information for almost all the studies in all the ranges, as well as prototype images and information. In addition they have a thriving discussion forum, classifieds section, and a newsblog that contains the latest information to come from The Tudor Mint.
