There are some smurfs that I have always tried to dodge and until recently Artist with Easel was one of these. Produced by Schleich  from 1986 to 1991, and only in 1984 by Applause (formerly known as Wallace Berrie) Artist with Easel is probably one of the harder to find Super Smurfs with it’s original box. For me it was important to not only collect the Smurf but also the box because that’s how it was put together for sale.

As I opened up the box, I noticed something very odd. The Super Smurf box did not look like the smurf on the box, it looked like the regular Painter #20045 and not the Artist #20089 with the red paintbrush that I was expecting to find. On the front of the box it displayed ‘Super Schlumpf Smurf!!’ and had Printed in Germany on the bottom of the box.

Upon closer inspection the Smurf had the markings Made in Hong Kong W. Berrie &Co Schleich S © Peyo 1978 and was painted with extreme blue paint.  The easel had never been assembled and included the painting without the © Peyo signature on it. 

So it looked like I had received a sealed box from Germany with a Smurf made out of Hong Kong and where the painting and easel had come from Germany. Things were just not adding up in my mind, on what I was expecting to find with Artist with Easel. This called on some drastic action – I needed some chocolate to help clear my mind.

This form of action worked a treat, as I started to think rationally about the smurf that I had just received. Yes, it is quite possible that if Schleich were short on supply of the Artist Smurf that the Painter Smurf is the most obvious replacement. Also upon looking online at other smurf collections, I found other collectors with this version of Artist with Easel with this box.

Collecting smurfs, especially Super Smurfs is always challenging as it requires you to always have your radar switched on. By looking at other smurf collections is just one way to increase your knowledge base. As they say you never stop learning!

My Artist with Easel now proudly sits in a special place with some of my other rare smurfs. The box has been carefully stored away with my other Super Smurfs boxes so it does not fall into my three year old nephew’s grasp. This is an extra smurf for me as it has been on my ‘most wanted list’ ever since I started collecting smurfs. 

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B