For an unprecedented third consecutive year, Harmony Kingdom has been selected to create the International
Collectibles Exposition exclusive. In keeping with ICE box figurines of years past, “Signing Line humorously
depicts enthusiasts in their quest to perfect their collections. Featured here are a cat and dog collector in queue
for Mad Murphy to sign their ICE pieces from 1998 and 1999. Each animal is covered with promotional pins
that are passed out during the ICE by exhibiting companies. The canine collector sports a tee shirt emblazoned
with “HK Tour 2000 - Atlanta, Rosemont, Hawaii” - Hawaii being Peter's preferred location for the next ICE.
At the his feet are the batteries which have fallen out of his camera – practical matters often fall by the wayside
in the signing line frenzy. Does the watch mark on his left wrist indicate that he’s a watchdog, or does it signify
the hours sometimes spent waiting to meet the artist and have favourite pieces signed? The inscription between
his legs refers to Kat Spagnola, HBC’s former webmistress. On one of the bags is a Union Jack encouraging
people to “buy British” - unless it moos, a reference to “mad cow” disease. One of the cat’s badges is marked
“TD” in homage to HK collector Tom Di Nardi. Another badge has PJ with a tongue in cheek line through it -
no PJ's in the exhibition hall please! This is the second reference to Pioneer Joe (a.k.a. Joe McLaughlin, HK
webmaster and HOP officer) on an ICE piece. More badges include a smiley face, and “N + L” for HK
co-founders Noel Wiggins and Lisa Yashon. Murphy wears a nicotine patch in an attempt to keep his
New Year’s resolution to quit smoking. On the back of the base is a cryptic arrangement of letters. Peter
says that these have to do with the colourful Harmony Ball ties that he’s so fond of wearing at ICE events.
While all the clues to the code are on the box, he won’t give the answer away just yet. 4500 of the 5000
piece edition feature an interior of grape, cherry, and banana – symbols on slot machines. 500 collectors
will hit the jackpot if the find the interior with three cherries.