Clarecraft
Encyclopedia
Clarecraft was a company which produced fantasy
figurine
s. Its most popular series was an officially licensed series of figurines based on the Discworld
novels by Terry Pratchett
. The company was founded in 1980 by Bernard and Isobel Pearson
, and acquired the rights to make Discworld figurines in 1990. In 1993, Clarecraft was purchased by Sally Couch and Trish Baker, the current owners. It is one of the few large scale vendors of Discworld merchandise, along with Stephen Briggs
, Paul Kidby
, and Bernard Pearson.
Clarecraft figurines are made from a variety of different materials, including pewter and ceramic, and vary widely in size. They range from statues of characters to replicas of objects from the novels to locations appearing in the novels, and some function as book ends, stamps, or containers as well as figurines. The designers at Clarecraft consulted with Terry Pratchett to ensure their figurines accurately reflect the novels. Clarecraft figurines are available in stores throughout England as well as online through Collectors Gifts. Its figurines have become quite collectable, with discontinued items often selling for many times their original price on auction sites. Since their pieces were hand made in Britain rather than mass produced like many figurines, each statue is different. The most expensive sale on record is that of an extremely rare piece sold on eBay
in early 2005 to benefit the tsunami relief effort, which sold for £1600.
Clarecraft also ran a large fan club called The Discworld Collectors' Guild, which hosted a large convention every other year which drew about 1000 people, including Terry Pratchett himself.
On August 4, 2005, Clarecraft announced they would be shutting down at the end of October and would stop taking orders in mid-October.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
figurine
Figurine
A figurine is a statuette that represents a human, deity or animal. Figurines may be realistic or iconic, depending on the skill and intention of the creator. The earliest were made of stone or clay...
s. Its most popular series was an officially licensed series of figurines based on the Discworld
Discworld
Discworld is a comic fantasy book series by English author Sir Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. The books frequently parody, or at least take inspiration from, J. R. R....
novels by Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
. The company was founded in 1980 by Bernard and Isobel Pearson
Bernard Pearson
Bernard Pearson is an artist best known for his sculptures of Discworld characters and buildings. He initially produced figurines at Clarecraft, which he co-founded, and upon leaving began his series of highly detailed Discworld buildings, most notably a multiple-piece Unseen University.He...
, and acquired the rights to make Discworld figurines in 1990. In 1993, Clarecraft was purchased by Sally Couch and Trish Baker, the current owners. It is one of the few large scale vendors of Discworld merchandise, along with Stephen Briggs
Stephen Briggs
Stephen Briggs is a British writer of subsidiary works and merchandise surrounding Terry Pratchett's comic fantasy Discworld. The Streets of Ankh-Morpork, the first Discworld map, was co-designed by Briggs and Pratchett and painted by Stephen Player in 1993...
, Paul Kidby
Paul Kidby
Paul Kidby is an English artist. He was born in Northolt and is currently living and working in Fordingbridge, New Forest. Many people know him best for his art based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld, which has been included as the sleeve covers since Josh Kirby died in 2001.He drew a lot during...
, and Bernard Pearson.
Clarecraft figurines are made from a variety of different materials, including pewter and ceramic, and vary widely in size. They range from statues of characters to replicas of objects from the novels to locations appearing in the novels, and some function as book ends, stamps, or containers as well as figurines. The designers at Clarecraft consulted with Terry Pratchett to ensure their figurines accurately reflect the novels. Clarecraft figurines are available in stores throughout England as well as online through Collectors Gifts. Its figurines have become quite collectable, with discontinued items often selling for many times their original price on auction sites. Since their pieces were hand made in Britain rather than mass produced like many figurines, each statue is different. The most expensive sale on record is that of an extremely rare piece sold on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
in early 2005 to benefit the tsunami relief effort, which sold for £1600.
Clarecraft also ran a large fan club called The Discworld Collectors' Guild, which hosted a large convention every other year which drew about 1000 people, including Terry Pratchett himself.
On August 4, 2005, Clarecraft announced they would be shutting down at the end of October and would stop taking orders in mid-October.