International Flat Figure Society - British Flat Figure Society
Flat Figures Painters Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: David Griffith on August 17, 2017, 09:21:47 AM
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Hi, gentlemen,
Last summer I was on holiday touring round Germany, and ended up visiting Kulmbach, so I could go round the museum.
I bought a set of figures representing Napoleon holding a soiree at Malmaison. Most of the figures are readily identifiable: Marshals & Generals, civilian musicians, servants, ladies, oh yes, and bits of furniture.
However there are two figures, which from the painting on the box front, I do not recognise. One is wearing a pale blue cutaway surtout, faced dark blue, with a brown or maroon waistcoat. The other is wearing a brown habit coat, with pale blue facings and waistcoat. (Please see attached photies.)
My question for wiser heads than mine is, what do these figures represent?
Are they:-
1. A branch of the French army that I don't recognise,
2. Officers from one of Napoleon's allies,
Or Heaven forfend, 3. A flight of fancy on the part of the painter.
I should be most grateful for any guidance, as I don't want to blindly follow the box art without knowing whether I am doing something real or spurious.
Regards,
David Griffith
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Without a look in my files:
- Light blue habit could be an Aide de Camp. (With silver acoutrements)
- Brown habit could be a Train d'Equipage officer (though I doubt, that any of those were present)
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Hello David,
this is a Mignot-Serie. I found these flats into the Mignot-Catalog. The description of the first flat (first picture) is P/15-e Aide-de-Camp.
The description of the second flat (second picture) is P/15-b. May be it shows also an Aide-de-Camp.
Regards Henry
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Hello David,
the shown uniforms are basically correct :
The officer in sky blue is one of the "Ordonnance officers" i.e. some kind of personal Aide de camp to Napoleon (but no dark blue facings but sky blue as well !) and the officer in brown is an officer of 2. hussars in gala dress. The last one could be chosen from any other French hussar unit as well and would have different colouring accordingly. Brown with sky blue were the regenmental colours of 2. hussars.
Best regards
Alexander
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Hello David
The man with a brown dress bears on the right shoulder "aiguillettes". I am not a specialist of the napoleonic uniforms and the point of "aiguillettes is not easy to explain. However the character could be an officier belonging to a troup of Emperor's Gard, for example "chasseurs à cheval de la garde impériale".
If need, I could put a drawing.
Richard
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Hello,
for the figure is an officer of the 2. hussars, too.
Zinnmartina
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Hello,
I think the brown coulour is wrong. It could be a hussars officer but he is wearing aiguillette on his right side. Aiguillette are only used by the ADC to Napoleon or by his ordnance officers (like Gourgaud) and by some officers from the Imperial Guard.
In attachment, the original page from the Mignot catalogue and the same serie painted by Douchkine.[attachimg=1]
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Ok for the 2nd Hussars. In the Histoire & Collections books Officers and Soldiers #7 there is a picture of a officer of the second in social dress page 15 pages 30 -38 uniforms of the 2nd the ex Chamborant Regiment. Also book #6 the French Imperial Guard 3 Cavalry 1804-1815 . The Maneluke in this set is Napoleon servant /guard. Two other books in this series #10 The French Imperial Guard 5 The Artillery Train, The Wagon Train Administration, The Medical Service, Headquarters Staff Last is #16 Guides & Guides of Commanding Generals and Headquarters 1792-1815 and now I am going to my man cave and go nuts :P Willie
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Annnd here is part of the Mignot page in color.
[attach=1]
One of my favorite flat sets and one I still have yet to acquire.
Given the breadth of the Napoleonic army along with the pace of change in uniforms it is hard to be hugely dogmatic. As this discussion shows there are a wealth of interpretations.
mark 8)
P.S. It is a bit amusing to think of how they must have looked in real life with thousands of soldiers on campaign trying to stay clothed and get about their business. There must have been huge variations in quality as well as look as soldiers on the go managed with what was available. (I seem to remember somewhere something about a British Redcoat regiment winding up in pink coats due to a poor dye job.)
Still a fascinating time when you look at the size of the armies involved and the span of engagement for what was truly the first world war. Annnd all done while dressing up and looking pretty good.
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Thanks for all the replies. Very interesting.
I think I shall go with them both done as Officiers d'Ordonnance, with sky blue uniforms and red waistcoats. However Douchkine seems to have painted the one in the habit coat as an officer of the Chasseurs a Pied, which is also rather tempting. We'll see what happens when I get around to painting them. Don't hold your breath, it'll be a long time coming!
David Griffith
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Mike you right on the British Uniforms just take a look at British Napoleonic Uniforms by C.E.Franklin. :o At first I thought the printing was bad but my friend who owns On Military Matters told me about that ??? Dave all one has to do is weight until it gets cold and get a bottle of Whisky pour you self a glass and paint all you want ::) Willie