The oldest of us remember the window shopping on the way to school. Near these, there was always a small shop, which sold toys and sweets. Inside we were greeted by the scent of primers, Malabar and Starlux. Outside the window displayed its wonders. There were toys in every nook and cranny.
The imaginary.
Who has not dreamed as a child, in front of a richly decorated box of soldiers with a beautifully drawn label?
It is placed in the merchant’s window, standing, slightly tilted among other toys. It has remained closed, and this cardboard box gives us a glimpse of the richness of its decoration of superb treasures. Indians in war paint, knights with their capes and caparisoned horses, hussars loading plumes in the wind, are already jostling before our eyes.
Labels of Haffner, Germany, and Lefèvre (F.V.), France.
Nostalgia.
I kept nostalgia for these superb boxes. They were not very expensive and sometimes one of them came to us as a gift. Once the cover was removed, it sometimes took a lot of imagination to recognize in the little characters attached to the box, the wonders promised on the beautiful label.
Labels of Heinrich (Noris), Germany and J.E.G. (?). Inside we find soldiers of X.R. France.
I forgot some soldiers a long time ago, but I still remember those lids and their labels.
Identification.
A box of soldiers, complete and original, it is the “must” for the collector. There was a time when it was the only way to identify with certainty, soldiers or figurines that were rarely “marked”. The name, or the initials, inscribed on the box swept away all questions.
Labels of Domage & Cie. (D.C.) France and Georg Heyde, Germany.
The collector’s item.
A box of soldiers can also be a magnificent object, which has become rare, representing a contemporary event from its time of manufacture. They were often only made for the duration of the relevant event. I am thinking of the boxes of the Tsar’s visit to Paris by C.B.G. in 1896, or the Holy Year, by Quiralu in 1950, or even the camp of Châlons by a large number of German manufacturers around 1857, and the Ethiopian war in 1936, etc.
Labels of Bondufour (France) and Herald. (England).
In this blog, we will open together boxes of soldiers, whether modest or luxury, to examine them, and to answer these four questions: who, what, how, when?
Open the box !
Memories.
The oldest of us remember the window shopping on the way to school. Near these, there was always a small shop, which sold toys and sweets. Inside we were greeted by the scent of primers, Malabar and Starlux. Outside the window displayed its wonders. There were toys in every nook and cranny.
The imaginary.
Who has not dreamed as a child, in front of a richly decorated box of soldiers with a beautifully drawn label?
It is placed in the merchant’s window, standing, slightly tilted among other toys. It has remained closed, and this cardboard box gives us a glimpse of the richness of its decoration of superb treasures. Indians in war paint, knights with their capes and caparisoned horses, hussars loading plumes in the wind, are already jostling before our eyes.
Nostalgia.
I kept nostalgia for these superb boxes. They were not very expensive and sometimes one of them came to us as a gift. Once the cover was removed, it sometimes took a lot of imagination to recognize in the little characters attached to the box, the wonders promised on the beautiful label.
I forgot some soldiers a long time ago, but I still remember those lids and their labels.
Identification.
A box of soldiers, complete and original, it is the “must” for the collector. There was a time when it was the only way to identify with certainty, soldiers or figurines that were rarely “marked”. The name, or the initials, inscribed on the box swept away all questions.
The collector’s item.
A box of soldiers can also be a magnificent object, which has become rare, representing a contemporary event from its time of manufacture. They were often only made for the duration of the relevant event. I am thinking of the boxes of the Tsar’s visit to Paris by C.B.G. in 1896, or the Holy Year, by Quiralu in 1950, or even the camp of Châlons by a large number of German manufacturers around 1857, and the Ethiopian war in 1936, etc.
In this blog, we will open together boxes of soldiers, whether modest or luxury, to examine them, and to answer these four questions: who, what, how, when?