Some early news has snuck out about the new mid-year Breyer models, along with a few leaked scans of the marketing material.  Some of the biggest buzz centers on the black porcelain Esprit (pictured at left).  

Collectors are a little skeptical of this Esprit's flat coat color, which is solid black from stem to stern, not a white snip or blaze or stocking in sight.  This certainly marks a significant departure from Breyer's usual coloring policy - so significant that many people are speculating that this collectible Esprit is actually made of black porcelain.

Being made of black porcelain would definitely account for the solid color, and it would fit with the exclusive collectible nature of the model.  Black porcelain is far rarer and more expensive than regular white porcelain, and lends the model a more sculptural look and feel.

Esprit is the mascot of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, which are being held in North America for the first time this year.  Breyer is sponsoring and heavily promoting the Equestrian Games, which will be held in Kentucky in late September, and broadcast by NBC.  As a tie-in, this particular collectible will be rare, with only 2,010 models being made.  (Get it?  2010?)

The porcelain Esprit model will retail for $99, but I have seen some outlets selling pre-orders as low as $80.  That seems a little low for a supposed collectible, and it may indicate that the market has some skepticism about the long term collectability of this model.  But if you are into the porcelain Breyer models, then the black porcelain Esprit will be a "must have" for your collection!

Esprit is also being featured on a collectible cloisonné pin, as a sort of "reverse palomino," white with gold mane and tail.  And as the filling of a "water globe," which is apparently like a snow globe without the snow.  And he will certainly be showing up in other forms as well, as we get closer to the games!

Another 2010 World Equestrian Games collectible is a decorated version of the Big Ben model.  Being referred to online as "deco Big Ben," he has been painted with a mural that encompasses all of the sports featured at the World Equestrian Games.  Deco Big Ben was painted by LeRoy Neiman, a painter who specializes in sports-related art.

(As an aside, I really like the Big Ben mold, which was created by Kathleen Moody in 1997.  It's one of the few molds that I think looks best in a plain coat color, like chestnut or dark bay.)

LeRoy Neiman was also tapped to paint the World Equestrian Games poster, which also has images from each of the eight sports in the WEGs.  Squinting at the Big Ben model, it looks like Neiman's poster has basically been adapted to wrap around a horse, instead of lie flat on a poster.  But the transition from a blue background on the top half of the horse to a green background on his bottom half is nicely done.  This model does nothing for me, but I'm sure someone will find it the perfect blend of "Breyer model" and "Neiman painting."