International Flat Figure Society - British Flat Figure Society
Flat Figures Painters Forum => News => Topic started by: errant49 on April 17, 2016, 02:54:44 PM
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A little moulds story
Every collector is looking for rare things and finding after a long search for item is always a great joy
Here is a small story
During the years 1934-1940, a French Collector, mr Paul Armont (1), issued a set of 30mm flats showing a tournament between knights of the Golden Fleece , a well known order created by Philippe le Bon, duke of Burgundy in January 1430
The figures were designed by Lucien Rousselot and engraved by Otto Thieme and Sixtus Maïer
This set has been painted several times by Vladimir Douchkine and a complete original set can be seen in the Paul Martin’s book : “Le monde merveilleux des soldats de plomb” (c.1960)
There are also some nice pictures in the Alexander Baden’s book
Paul Armont died in 1943 and the moulds he owned were sold in an auction in Paris; among the 28 forms of the set, eight were bought by mr Neckel who sold them to Sixtus Maïer; the 20 others disappeared
The actual set available from Maïer contains the eight original figures and the other ones have been redesigned by Hors Becker and Heinz Denk and reengraved by Hans Waltz, but unfortunately, the quality is not at the level of the originals
Mr Maïer later added 15 figures, rather well engraved by mr Rieger
So, during the last 70 years, except the eight remaining figures, the original set was lost
But, nowadays, there is something called “Internet” and a lot of auction websites on it, which I regularly look at
And on the 3rd of March I had the chance to buy four of the original moulds on the French EBay; three are for one figure, one is for two figures
The figures I have are : P55, Duke of Burgundy, P53, Guillaume of Vienne, P52, Duke of Berg, P69, Judge of Tournament, P70 , Trumpeter
As I think this could interest many collectors friends, I ask the AFCFEF (afcfef.fr) to take care of the moulds and to issue the figures which will be soon available via their website
I just hope some of you will be happy to have the opportunity to get these rare figures
( Thanks to Jan Sennebo and Alexander Baden for the informations they gave me)
Eric
(1): about Paul Armont look at : http://www.flats-zinnfiguren.com/Armont/
I join :
A picture of the set in the Paul Martin’s book
Pictures of the forms
Pictures of the figures side by side with the reengraved ones
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Wow! Great news Eric. Please let us know how and when this figures will be available for collectors.
Oleg
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I would certainly be interested !!
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What a fascinating story and delightful outcome!
I have the re-engraved version of this set which was one if the first I acquired from the gentlemen who runs Red Lancers in the USA. I have painted the rearing knight with the lance at least 5 time but, have never been happy and he is one of the hurdles I still have to cross along with decent looking armor. (I still need to order some of the charming visitor stands from Maier which have spectators overlooking the joust along with the arms of the favorites on shields.)
Kind of you to donate the moulds, I love good news like this, such as reavailability of Wimor figures for example.
mark 8)
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Thanks Eric.
In his book "Le Monde Merveilleux des Soldats De Plomb," Paul Martin claims that the original "Golden Fleece Tournament" set was designed by Lucien Rousselot and engraved by Ludwig Frank in 1930. The moulds were numbered P51-P78 (Note 39). Were there actually three sets made? A first set engraved by Frank. A second set which Paul Armont was editing in the late 1930s, based upon Rousselot's earlier designs. And the final set, a mix of Armont's moulds and those produced by Tilo Maier?
Compare Armont's figures with those in the attached pictures.
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Paul Martin was wrong, Frank did not engrave any of the figures
The set on the pictures was recently sold in an auction in Paris and it contains many figures modified by Douchkine
Eric
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Dear Eric,
yes my congratulation !
Yes there were only two sets and the first was at least mainly engraved by Sixtus Maier (being not sure if there were any engraved by Thieme). I attach a list of the number which are different to the SIMA set numbers !
Further more I add three more samples for the different size and engraving of the old and new figures all painted by Douchkine.
And finally some more painted flats of this set. The flats shown on the pages 42/43 in my Douchkine book consisted all of the first original Sixtus Maier engraved set.
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At last I started painting the five figures
I have to finish them for the AFCFEF Strasbourg show where they will be available
Eric
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Look forward to these, particularly your Duke of Burgundy. Such a lot of heraldry going on in such a small space...
Also probably quite fun to paint such classic figures.
Mark 8)
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Work of the day
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Damn Eric you're fast! Very nice
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Weather is rather bad these days ::) ::)
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Absolument superbe !!!!!
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Heraldics ??? ??? ???
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like it very much :)
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Yes!! very good (-;
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Thank you ! I need support ;) ;) ;)
The complete set has about 50 figures !
Eric
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How do you obtain this shiny effect of the metal, Eric ?
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I paint on the bare metal
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;)
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Coming along beautifully Eric and an exciting Indiana Jones style tale of search and discovery. The history of our hobby thanks you!
Ray
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Here are the finished figures
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Magnifique !!
Your paint at light speed !!! (or over the clock each day !!)
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Thanks Eric - I read a little further - and found this explanation of the 5 figures.
Very nice of you to have these made available once again. A truly nice story.
johnnybach (jb)
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@Eric,
could you please provide further information about the availability of these wonderful figures?
At the site of AFCFEF I can't find any substantial information about the topic.
Thanks
Joerg
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Dear Joerg
The AFCFEF website seems to be down
The figures are available and you can order them to mr Jean-Luc Veinnant, AFCFEF secretary, who makes the casting of the figures
The price of the five is 10 euros
As they do not have a Paypal account I can do the go between if needed
I send you Jean-Luc email address by PM
Best regards
Eric
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@Eric,
merci beaucoup pour le support !
J.
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Wonderful! It is so beautiful when things we think they are lost forever come back.