I was at an indoor market in Bellac today when I chanced upon these chaps for sale. The figures may be pewter and the individual soldiers are about 8cm tall - so I’m not sure what scale that equates to. I’ve no idea of manufacturer / age / period / nationality represented but they’re 85 euro for 12 as far as I can see which seems reasonable.
If anybody is able to shine a light on this I’d be grateful for any info.
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They’ve been glued to several crappy wooden bases and all of the figures appear to be individual.
Again, any info the hive mind can provide will be gratefully received.
A plus mes amis.
All I can see is a lovely rabbit hole! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt’s not really my scene to be honest Norm, so thankfully not a rabbit hole I shall be falling down… well not this week…however I’d be keen to know a bit more about them just from a curiosity point of view. It’s a really unusual thing to come across out here in the sticks.
DeleteThey are French Napoleonic soldiers of various types, including some Imperial Guard. One of the mounted figures appears to be Napoleon himself.
ReplyDeleteWell he’s looking in remarkably good nick considering his age, lol.
DeleteOh, these figures look fab! How did you not walk away with this collection?
ReplyDeleteThey are very nice Jon, however I’ve just dropped 2k euro on getting the car fixed so limited cash at the moment I’m afraid. I’m sure they’ll still be there in a week or so. As a side issue I’ve no idea if they’re even worth the dosh. They don’t look it but they could just be mass produced stuff worth about 3euro each.
DeleteThey all look Napoleonic to me, mostly French but I don't think the French sat astride the artillery caisson so those ones may be Austrian. Some are definitely Guard Foot Artillery I would say.
ReplyDeleteCheers Keith, that’s good to know. I might go back next week and have another look see.
DeleteSorry, but no idea on where to start with these, but they do look very nice and would make a nice display in the games room, just saying;)!
ReplyDeleteThey would Steve but cash is tight at the moment. Then again given the comment below I might have to hit the plastic.
DeleteGoogle image search and AI suggest that they are part of a collection of "La Grande Armee de Napoleon", originally produced by MHSP in the 1970s and reissued by Atlas Editions. Given the doubts about AI, a search for MHSP produced this from Ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362578252036
ReplyDeleteone of which does match one of the figures in your photos so might be a starting point.
Hope it helps (and doesn't lead to a rabbit hole !)
And you sir are a prince amongst men, thank you so much for digging into this for me. Seems they’re 10 quid per figure on eBay so 85 euro for 10/12 seems like a great deal. Thanks for taking the time to point me in the right direction. Much appreciated.
DeleteWhy's that chap in picture #7 nicking a fence panel? And why is his mate to the left miming dragging it rather than actually helping him?
ReplyDeleteChris, Chris, Chris, you’re missing the point mate this IS an actual mime artist convention cosplaying as Napoleonic soldiers. You have to think of this as interpretative art, as a performance…rather than figures engaged in actual warfare.
DeleteNow you just need the Russians JBM. 😁
ReplyDeleteTee hee. I’m just thanking my lucky stars the figures aren’t really my period. I have to be honest, if they’d been say, ECW, they’d have been in my car boot quick smart…whatever the price.
DeleteLovely figures JBM and going by the info provided, worth the money.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely aren’t they Donnie, but buying them and selling them on to anyone outside of France would be such an expensive ball ache that I’m not sure I can be bothered with the hassle. I’ll go back in a week or so and see if they’re still there. If they are I’ll take as a sign from the gods.
DeleteMark, as 'cepensarum' stated, they are SHP miniatures produced in France, white metal, not pewter. I have the one of Napoleon on foot, a red lancer and horse charging and grenadier carrying a Prussian flag (after Jena). Purchased from the Musée de l'armée in 1980, except for N who came from Waterloo. I was mad keen to get the version on horseback, but it was out of stock at les invalides. Dad kindly took us on a flying trip to back to Waterloo (we'd been there already), but they too only had him on foot.
ReplyDeleteThere is a job lot here for 27 euro, but they are not as good as the ones that you found (https://www.catawiki.com/de/c/723-spielzeug). Get 'em for yourself and begin your adventure into the wonderful world of Napoleonics! Otherwise, drop me a line if you change your mind about buying them for someone else. My email address is in my blogger profile! :)
Best wishes, James
James, cheers for the confirmation info on the manufacturer - I’ve sent you a PM about an attempt to purchase some of them via your suggested email address.
DeleteThey do look nice, sort of 'ooh, semi-shiny'. But the rabbit hole you've dragged me into is the one entered by looking up Bellac - just makes me want to be wandering in rural 'La France Profonde'..
ReplyDeleteEnjoy them, if you do get tempted!
Hi David, Bellac’s okay but they’re department 87 Haute Vienne, not as nice as my 23 La Creuse. If you ever fancy wandering around middle France you can stop at our gîte gratuit for a couple of nights - though I’d recommend the summer if you wanted to actually meet French people (they all hibernate out here in the winter) lol.
Deletethat sounds an amzingly kind offer, and you never know..
DeleteI like the slight edge of Department rivalry - I have similar feelings around my lovely Suffolk and not-so-lovely Essex... :)
Lovely Napoleonic French, the ones sitting astride the carriage, that Keith thought was Austrian are medical staff I think, mime and performance art are from two seperate traditions, I would be careful mixing them up with practisioners of either camp, theyre both touchy lots, I know from experience!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Well that throws up a lot of questions Iain, but advice on how to behave around such folk is duly noted. Wouldn’t want to enrage such highly strung types that’s for sure.
DeleteI can't help with who made any of them, but you'd be damn fine on my shelf!!
ReplyDeleteHi Ray, nice to hear from you, the collection can be found at the premises of Herve Ritter Antiquities at Peyrat de Bellac and the phone number is (France) 06 85 08 25 81. Mr Ritter speaks English (after a fashion) but the brocante has a website www.antiquites-herve-ritter.com so I’m assuming there’s a contact section on there where a none french speaker could send a message translated by google or some such. Feel free to use my photos if some way of identifying what you want is required.
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