The highly collectable, large and finely crafted male plush lion, having nylon filament whiskers and amber eyes, and modelled seated with a beautiful mane and tail, the whole made by Jockline of Applause/Avanti in the early 1980s, and still retaining its label.
Unknown.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Jockline was an Italian firm noted for its great ability to translate an appreciation of the animal kingdom into life-sized studio pieces and soon became to be known the world over for its highly realistic plush renditions of dogs, cats, and other animals.
Many of the Jockline animals were marketed in the United States under the Avanti trade name, though in later years Wallace Berrie Company, Inc., shifted production of some of the Jockline-designed animals to Korea which in turn led to Jockline ceasing trading in 1991. Thus, the animals from the era prior to this, when this lion was crafted, are highly prized by collectors.
A rare find which straddles the borders of sculpture and art and the jostling world of the plush toy collector.
In good overall condition there are some small deficiencies but nothing of major concern. The nose is flaking a little and the eye sockets have some loss as photographed.
By appointment only.
