Vintage 1973 Wallace Berrie “I Like You / I Love You This Much” Figurine Pair – Made in USA Sentimental Collectible

The Set

A pair of sentimental figurines produced by Wallace Berrie & Co. in 1973. The two figures form a complete message when displayed together: one shyly admitting "I Like You," the other answering "I Love You This Much."

They carry the whimsical character design that defined 1970s giftware, with oversized expressive eyes, exaggerated childlike proportions, and soft matte finishes meant to feel approachable rather than formal. The boy figure stands bashfully with a hand to his mouth. The companion figure opens her arms wide, emphasizing the playful exaggeration of the phrase on her base.

Both are molded resin composite with a matte finish. An original fabric flower embellishment remains on the back of the "I Like You" figure.

History & Provenance

Wallace Berrie & Co., founded in Los Angeles in 1948, became one of the largest American producers of novelty giftware during the middle of the twentieth century. The company specialized in sentimental figurines, collectible characters and licensed merchandise, and helped define the look of American gift shops through the 1960s and 1970s.

Before it took on licensed properties such as Garfield and Ziggy, Wallace Berrie built its reputation on original figurines of this kind, playful and emotionally direct pieces designed to work as small keepsakes. Their designs blended cartoon character styling with hand finished decorative detail: painted expressions, molded clothing textures and fabric embellishments.

Pieces from the early 1970s such as this pair reflect the move away from earlier chalkware figurines into more durable molded resin and composite materials, which allowed greater detail and larger production runs while keeping the handmade look buyers expected.

The dating is not a matter of attribution here. The bases are marked "Made in U.S.A." and "© Wallace Berrie & Co. 1973," with mold number 9087.

Figurines like these were sold through card shops and novelty gift retailers and were commonly given as small tokens of affection, particularly at Valentine's Day or an anniversary. Finding the pair still together preserves the intended narrative of the design, a two part story of affection rendered in sculptural form.

Product Details

Why It Belongs in Your Home

There is something disarming about objects made simply to make someone smile. This pair captures the playful sincerity of 1970s gift culture, small expressive things meant to communicate affection lightly.

Displayed together on a shelf, a desk or a bedside table, the figurines work as both period decoration and a quiet reminder of a time when a small keepsake could say everything that needed saying.

For collectors of vintage giftware, period Valentine decoration, or mid century novelty objects, the complete pair offers historical context alongside its decorative presence. Not every collectible was made for a gallery or a museum. Some were meant to sit on a dresser and make someone feel loved, and the smallest objects often carry the most human stories.