Clown Series

1. Clown Figurines (set of 4)
Item No : 12238A to 12238D
Retail Price : US$20 each
Issued : 1985
Suspended : 1996

2. Clown Series

Retail Price : US$30 each
Issued : 1985

Retired : 1997

Issue 1 - I Get a Bang Out of You

Item No : 12262

Issue 2 - Waddle I Do Without You

Item No : 12459

Issue 3 - The Lord Will Carry You Through

Item No : 12467

Issue 4 - Lord Keep Me On the Ball

Item No : 12270

3. Smiles Forever - Clown Series

Item No : 101543 - 101547

Retail Price : US$45 each

Issued : 2002
Limited Edition : 5,000 pcs only

Arranged from left to right:

First Issue - Love is On Its Way

Second Issue = Lord, Help Me Clean Up My Act

Third Issue - Life Never Smelled so Sweet

Arranged from left to right:Fourth Issue - Our Love is Heaven Scent
Fifth Issue - Friends are Never Far Behind

The Original "21" (Introduced in 1979)

~ THE BEGINNING OF PRECIOUS MOMENTS ~

The Precious Moments collectibles line began in 1978 with 21 figurines, called the "Original 21". 

Come Let Us Adore Him
Item No : E-2011
Retired : 1981

God Understands

Item No : E-1379B

Suspended : 1984

Jesus Loves Me (Boy & Girl)
Item No : E-1372B & E-1372G
Retired : 1998 & 2003

Love Lifted Me

Item No : E-1375A
Retired : 1993

Love One Another

Item No : E-1376
This is the only "Original 21" figurine that is still in production.  It also happens to be the first figurine I received as a present from my then boyfriend and now hubby.  He always says that it was a mistake, because this was how I started my "expensive" hobby of collecting precious moments figurines...

 

Prayer Changes Things

Item No : E-1375B
Suspended : 1984

The Precious Moments Production Marks

The annual production marks, imprinted on the bottom of the base of each Precious Moments figurine, denotes the year the figurine was produced and symbolises an inspirational message.  . 

The value of a Precious Moments figurine is usually, but not always, slightly higher if you have the first year mark, meaning a figurine that was produced in its first year. This holds true with older figurines produced in the first decade, but isn’t nearly as important with figurines from more recent years.  Occasionally, the yearly production mark is missing from a figurine, which can impact its value, often favorably

Yearly Production Marks
No Mark - Pre 1981
1981 : Triangle [Symbol of the Trinity - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]
1982 : Hourglass [Represents the time we have on earth to serve the lord]
1983 : Fish [Earliest symbol used by believers of the early Christian apostolic church]
1984 : Cross [Symbol of Christianity recognized worldwide]
1985 : Dove [Symbol of love and peace]
1986 : Olive Branch [Symbol of peace and understanding]
1987 : Cedar Tree [Symbol of strength, beauty, and preservation]
1988 : Flower [Represents God's Love for His children]
1989 : Bow and Arrow [Represents the power of the Bible]
1990 : Flame [For those who have gone through the fire of life and found comfort in believing]
1991 : Vessel [A reminder of God's love which flows through the vessel of life]
1992 : Clef [Symbol of the harmony of God's love]
1993 : Butterfly [Represents the rebirth of man who comes from darkness into the light]
1994 : Trumpet [Represents loving, caring, and sharing. The trumpet is the battle cry to war and the heralder of victory]
1995 : Ship [Portrays a message of hope]
1996 : Heart [Symbol of love]
1997 : Sword [Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword]
1998 : Eyeglasses [Symbolises Precious Moment's 20 years and "the vision's still the same"]
1999 : Star [Matthew 2:2 - Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him]
2000 : Egg [Symbol of the new millennium and a new beginning. The egg speaks of birth and of new things to come - things known only to God]
2001 : Sandal [Represents our journey with the Lord]
2002 : Cross in Heart [Keeps faith in your heart]
2003 : Crown [Represents a message of glory, dignity, and sovereignty]
2004 : Three-Petal Flower [Symbolises the message of "loving, caring and sharing"]
2005 : Bread [John 6:35 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst"]
2006 : House [Psalm 122:1,2 - I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem]
2007 : Hammer [Hebrews 3:4 - For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything]
2008 : Stylised PM Heart [Represents the importance of guarding one's heart]
2009 : Sheaf of Wheat [A necessary ingredient to making bread. Jesus is the bread of life]
2010 : Tree [A tree grows and can bear fruit in season as mentioned in Psalm 1:3]
2011 : Scroll [Each person leaves a legacy as an inheritance]
2012 : Box with Bow [Serves as a reminder as to why we give and the importance of love]
2013 : Flame [Loving reminder that you are never alone; Jesus is the light of the world]

The Precious Moments Story

The story behind Precious Moments' beginning is quite remarkable.

While at a LA, California trade show in 1978, Eugene Freedman, then CEO and Chairman of Enesco Corporation, was struck by a young man named Sam Butcher and his series of greeting cards. The cards depicted a number of teardrop-eyed children, each portraying a different inspirational message of comfort and hope. Freedman immediately realised the potential within the artist.

Freedman brought one of the cards to his longtime friend, Japanese sculptor, Yasuhei Fujioka and asked him to create a porcelain bisque figurine of the drawing. Sam was so overwhelmed when he saw how perfectly the outcome expressed his message that when he saw the piece, he began to weep with joy.

The piece, now known as "Love One Another" went on to become one of the 21 Precious Moments figurines to make their debut at a Chicago trade show the same year. These 21 pieces became the "Original 21" and was the start to a successful and expanding line of figurines.

Sam Butcher, Eugene Freedman and Yasuhei Fujioka became the founders of Precious Moments and worked together to bring Sam's messages of "loving, caring and sharing" to the world.

Precious Moments has became one of the top porcelain collectible brand in the United States and around the world.