Playing Fantasy, History and Faith

Kevin Heekin, of Heekin Pewter, is the popular guy at any crafts fair. While their mothers are off buying candles, boys line up at Heekin’s booth not only to admire his pewter figurines, but to buy them — at three to five dollars each, his unpainted figures are maybe the only thing at the fair that a kid can afford on the money in his pocket.

We have a pretty fair number of Heekin figurines rattling around our house: wizards, castles, a dragon or two, and a bunch of errant knights from various time periods who from time to time get pressed into improbable battles with the Star Wars Lego guys.

In addition to historical and fantasy figures, Heekin also makes saints. Here’s Saint Patrick —

— whom you could pair with an unconverted Celt or two —

Or you might like to make up a medieval set including Saint Francis in his Before-

and-After manifestations.

Heekin also makes Greek, Roman, Macedonian, Egyptian, and Israelite warriors, Lord of the Rings figures, angels, crucifixes, and Nativity sets. His more-expensive painted figurines are meant to be collectibles, but the unpainted versions stand up to hours of imaginative play.

My boys say: Highly recommended

[Rating: 99.999/100]