The Fantasy World of Wee Forest Folk

This year, Annette Petersen slipped away from the fantasy world she created of miniature mice and friends, just a few days shy of her 103rd birthday. The company she founded, Wee Forest Folk is celebrating 50 years of making beautiful small animal figures.

After her marriage she moved to Concord, MA, setting up home at her husband Richard’s family farm. A self-taught artistic soul, she set herself to create beautiful things for her home and children with paints and brush and hammer. She had a love for a little creatures even as a child, and later in life began to make little mice out of bread dough. This was catastrophic because the mice were eaten by the real thing.

In the late 1960s, she started creating her Wee Forest Folk mice by modeling them first in clay. The clay was fired and then used to make molds that could be filled with a strong casting stone. Each little mouse was then meticulously painted. Her figures were dressed in clothing  like every day human folk. They celebrated and showed their emotions and experiences – all of the things shared with the human world.

This of course made people fall in love with them and her. She sold them out of gift shops in the late 60s, and they were a big hit. Two of her children, William and Donna went into business with her and modeled their own creatures and designs. In 2022, her thriving business continues with her daughter and son who are both modelers and have created their own unique lines of creatures. The company has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. And it continues on, making people smile and remember occasions small and large. Their company website is very useful for collectors and fans.

What I love about these figures is the amazing detail in the expression on the faces of the mice and other animals that were created. They are incredibly sturdy as well and because they’re so tiny one could create a fantasy environment with a dozen or more of these charming pieces.

I have had more than a dozen of these come into my hands;  selling out of the shop pretty quickly and shipping surprisingly to people far and wide in the country. Her influence is great geographically. Just about every buyer asks me if I will get more in and I say who knows? I have a strong feeling that collections are passed on to a younger generation rather than making a way into the resale marketplace.

From a Collector’s Perspective

“I started collecting Wee Forest Folk around 1990 when I fell in love with them in my local Hallmark Store. When I found out that they were started with a piece of clay and the finished product was then cast, features were airbrushed on the piece and the pieces were hand painted, I couldn’t help but fall in love with them more. I loved the fact that pieces were often kept in egg crates and the painters would come to the mouse factory and pick up pieces to hand paint and then return them to the factory.

Many of the pieces that I have purchased have wonderful memories because they remind me of times in my life when I purchased them or of something I have done in my life. Annette and the Petersen Family have provided such wonderful artistic talent in their creations over the years. I have always LOVED the meticulous painting of small details that adorn the pieces. I have to admit that I am like a kid in a candy store and get so excited when I find a piece to purchase. Through the years I have collected Wee Forest Folk, I have met many nice collectors and retailers and I have formed some wonderful friendships through this collectible. I am ALWAYS looking for MORE Wee Forest Folk or products made by the Petersen Family to add to my collection.”

–from Kathy, a customer and BIG fan of WFF

A Gallery of Wee Forest Folks…

…and a Little Imposter

A friend gave me this Doctor Mouse and at first glance, we thought he was an early cast member of Wee Forest Folk. Upon closer inspection with a hand lens there was not the brilliant quality that shows up in even the smallest details. I contacted the company and showed them an image. This was not made by them (made in the 1980s) but they helped put an end to this wannabee line!

Regarding the Birthplace of Wee Forest Folk

If you are not a New Englander, Concord, MA and its surrounds is a must visit to see homes and graves of famous 19th century authors, historic events such as the reenacted battle at “By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.” and Thoreau’s Walden Pond to name a few. If you are a big fan of WFF, in the warmer weather there are scheduled tours of the Mouse Factory in nearby Carlisle, MA.