Dear All: On Apr 24th I originally jumped in on another thread on Mohr figures with a question on the Bauernkrieg / Peasant's War series (see italics below). Hopefully the moderator will be OK with my now raising the topic in its own separate thread - and even more importantly I hope to gain some more information on the set of figures from fellow IFFS members (the earlier post did not, I'm afraid attract any readership or comment!). I'll try and link in photos to supplement this initial post, both for completeness and to help with identification (if I'm in breach of copyright on any of these, perhaps someone could let me know and I'll make the necessary edit).
"Following on from this, I'm trying to place each of the Mohr Bauernkrieg (Peasants' War) figures. Does anyone have a listing that shows the complete set, and who goes where? I'm assuming the set is 63 pieces total: true? Appreciated!"
Having done some additional research, I can now expand on this as follows (some of this comes from piecing together the separate commentaries from, for example, Egon Krannich's book on the complete works of Mohr, plus articles from BFFS/IFFS (including looking at the wonderful sets painted up by fellow IFFs members over the years) , plus some very helpful insights received from Uhlrich Holland-Merten. Grateful for any corrections of errors of fact or omission! I do speak some German, which has helped in getting as far as I have.
- The "set" may be anything from 50 to 63/64 figures. Krannich shows a total of 51 figures - 1 edited by Zinnfigurenfreunde Leipzig / painted by Matthias Frenzel, and 50 edited by Wolfgang Unger / also painted by Frenzel. Am I right to assume these same 51 figures are the pieces engraved by Mohr, and that any additions to the set are just that (additions)?
- The numbering of the individual figures can be a little confusing: 1/1 to 1/18 is straightforward; 1/19 to 1/50 are presumably all the follow-on / sequential Mohr figures (I don't have all of these, so cannot be 100% on this) with each figure carrying Mohr's mark of FKM in addition to the numbering.
- 14 of the figures (HSI/51-53, all marked "HN"; plus HSI/54-63, all marked Otto/Mohr); plus HB/64, also marked Otto/Mohr). I understand that Otto refers to a former apprentice (Herr Werner Otto) of Mohr, employed in the 1980s by the (former?) mould owner, Herr Unger, to repair / re-engrave some of the broken moulds of the Bauernkrieg series ie these figures seem to replace 14 of the originals that would most likely have been numbers 1/26 to 1/36, 1/40, 1/49 and 1/50. True? But who is/was HN, and what do HSI and HB refer to?
- And there are a further 3 figures that are not numbered but are marked Mohr, and which all appear in the Krannich book: the first of these is a figure representing Florian Geyer (a German nobleman who became a leader of the peasants within the revolt) but which is not included by Krannich; the second is the only mounted peasant figure and is marked "HS" - and is included by Krannich; and the third is a larger figure* of a peasant on top of a fallen statue brandishing a staff, also included by Krannich. [* This figure appears to be engraved only on the one side: true? Also, the copy I have has a rather poorly cast base and it is not possible to read any inscription.]
- Separately, I note that Gianpaulo Bistulfi's superb gallery photos on this site actually show a total of 53 figures, with the 18 Klosterpluenderung figures on one photo and 35 other figures in second photo. The additional 2 figures appear to be a "Book Burner" and a "Halberd Carrier". Where do these additional2 figures fit in? [The Bistulfi painted set(s) do include Florian Geyer and the Mounted Figure I refer to above, as well as the "Fallen Statue" figure. However while Krannich includes the Book Burner, he does not include the Halberd Carrier.]
- The first 18 figures - ie 1/1 to 1/18 - are (again, Krannich) known to be the first ones engraved by Mohr for his planned series on the topic and were almost a mini-set representing the sacking of a monastery (Klosterpluenderung). Mohr then intended to add further min-sets as "building blocks" that collectors could use as they saw fit for small dioramas etc.
- An example of such a mini-set is based on the peasant leader Joss Fritz (figure 1/23) in front of a fir tree addressing a small number of listeners (3 total? Figures 1/24, 1/25 and perhaps 1/37?).
- Also a group of 4 musicians (figures 1/19 to 1/22?). [I'm actually missing one of these (1/19?) and instead have 2 x 1/22: damn! If anyone can help on finding that particular, figure I'd be most grateful.]
- The set that I have also includes 10 figures engraved by Ludwig Frank. [These are in 2 groups: the first 6 (all marked "WU" seem to be numbered 1a/9a/9b/9c/9d/9e); and the next 4 are numbered 1b/1c/4a/4c. NB: I've seen the first group of 6 figures separately on the Scholz/Berliner Zinnfiguren site under the Order Ref 278/30, where they appear as part of a larger group of 15 figures.] I understand that Herr Unger (as the former(?) Bauernkrieg mould owner) used to make it a habit to send these 10 figures with the rest of the Mohr figures, but now that the moulds have been moved on this may now not be the case...........
- Looking at the figures I do have from the Mohr Bauernkrieg series, there are gaps in the listing: I don't have 1/19 (the 4th musician?); and I'm of course assuming the Werner Otto figures are direct replacements for 1/26-1/36, 1/40, 1/49 and 1/50.
Anyone care to add to this?
Redman
