The HK House of Peers and Harmony Kingdom offered you the opportunity to win a pair of Always & Forever box figurine prototypes, carved by Monique Baldwin. At the same time you would be assisting NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), a grass roots organization dedicated to eradicating mental illness and improving the quality of life for those affected by these diseases.

Always & Forever, the 2003 Romance Annual box figurine, was carved by Master Carver Monique Baldwin and produced in England. Two prototypes are being offered in this charity auction. The first is Version 1 and the second is the piece that was originally intended to be the Version Infinity of Always & Forever. Harmony Ball Company only issued Version 1. The figurines are identical except for coloration.

Once thought to be the offspring of the god Neptune's water-breathing steeds, sea horses are actually slim, upright fish. The sea horse was an excellent choice for Harmony Kingdom's Romance Annual. They mate for life. They have a very elaborate courtship ritual. They change their colors and perform synchronized swimming routines. It is one of the most interesting arrangements in the animal kingdom. It is the father who becomes pregnant. The female lays her eggs in the males special pouch, where they grow until they hatch.

Always & Forever
Unreleased Version Infinity
Prototype Back View

The first box figurine offered is the Version 1 prototype of Always & Forever. It depicts two sea horses, cuddled next to each other, nestled in between black coral, and orange kelp. The bodies of the sea horses are brown, and their heads are green. The interior of the box contains two tiny sea horses, nose to nose. The base of the lid is heart shaped. There is no crown stamp on the lid. There are the four basic hallmarks on the rim of the lid. There is a peace sign, an eye, Monique's hallmark, and the "c" copyright. The hallmark "V1" is not present on the prototype. The bottom of the base (right) is marked ROMANCE ANNUAL # 001.

 
The second box figurine offered is the Version Infinity prototype of Always & Forever. It is extremely unique and rare, being the only known piece in the US. This Version Infinity Romance Annual was never released into the Harmony Kingdom line. The sea horses in this version have gold heads instead of green. The coral is red, instead of black. The kelp leaves are green instead of orange. The lid contains the same hallmarks as Version 1. There is no crown stamp on the bottom of the lid, nor is there an Infinity hallmark. The bottom of the base (right) is marked SEA HORSE INFINITY # 001.

Do not miss the opportunity to add these beautiful, rare pieces to your collection. You will not only bring joy to yourself, but you will help bring joy to those who NAMI supports.
 

This auction was held on

and ended February 8, 2004
raising $520.10 for NAMI
 

Harmony Kingdom Always & Forever PT's 4 Charity

 
eBay Auction was a charity auction sponsored by the HK House of Peers to benefit NAMI.

NAMI is the nation's leading grassroots organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders). Their efforts focus on support to persons with serious mental illnesses and to their families. They advocate non-discriminatory and equitable federal and state policies; increased research funding into the causes, symptoms, and treatments for mental illness; and education to eliminate the pervasive stigma toward severe mental illness. Through advocacy and education, NAMI translates biomedical research advances into effective treatment and services for individuals with serious mental illness.
 

Thank You!   'kinmar954dem'