Categories: Decorating & Design

CowParade Collectible Figurines

CowParade is a community art project that first started in New York. Artists are given life-size fiberglass cows to decorate in almost any way they see fit. Several animals were discussed, but ultimately the cow was chosen because they are non-threatening, and many people like them. Since Cow Parade found success, many cities have instituted their own similar type of community art project. Omaha, Nebraska has done people, Toronto in Canada has done moose, and Santa Fe, New Mexico has done ponies. But they were all inspired by the original CowParade.

Artists receive a life-size cow made of fiberglass. They can choose between three different styles of cows. The CowParade artists can choose standing, grazing, or reclining. Most, but not all of the artists choose to keep this form, although they can alter and deconstruct the form to make unique poses. These cows can be painted, decorated, and altered to fit the artist’s design, but all must be able to withstand the elements. Although some cows are placed indoors, most are placed outdoors, and all are accessible to the public. The artists are paid a $1000 honorarium for their work.

CowParade began in Chicago in 1999. It raised over $3.5 million for charity, and the average bid was over $25,000 per cow. The cow that raised the most money was one named HANDsome, which was decorated with a white background and different colored handprints. This cow sold for $110,000. Celebrities now own some of the cows from this auction.

The community art project spread to other cities quickly, but the people in charge decided that the response was so tremendous that they should offer a way for everyone to own a smaller version in their home. Thus, CowParade collectibles were born. The first group of Chicago collectibles were made and sold in 2000. The original group included ten colletible cow figurines, and very few of each one were produced, so these original ten are very rare and worth a great deal.

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The original ten collectible figurines are the most sought after. There were some other Chicago collectible cows produced at a later time, and some are considered very rare. Also rare are some miniature collectibles that were made to resemble the World Trade Center, called “Twin Cowers”. Look for ones made before 2001, because they re-released some after this, and flooded the market. Apart from this miniature collectible figurine, only the medium size cows are typically sought by collectors. While CowParade produced stuffed animals, t-shirts, banks, bookends, and large size cows, only the medium collectible figurines are desirable to collectors.

A good rule of thumb for finding valuable CowParade cows is to look for the oldest date possible. It should be a medium cow, and if numbered, it should have a low number. There should not be any cracks, chips, or defects in the cow. Also, some cows are more valuable because they have unique shapes with pieces that were likely to break. As they get older, more and more collectibles are likely to break, so there are fewer available, and it drives the price up. The cows should come with the original box, the original packing materials, a hangtag or display tag, and any promotional materials that were included with the original purchase of the cow. The price of the collectible should go down considerably if these items are not also in good condition, or if they are missing.

Ebay can yield some good results, although the older collectibles are becoming difficult to find. You may need to seek help from a professional who can help you locate the older ones. Ebay is a good source for buying the CowParade cows as a package deal or a series of cows. For example, you can search several stores and find the entire series of cows made to resemble characters from “The Wizard of Oz”, or you can find them all available for one price on Ebay.