Untitled
W. Britain
Category
Toys
Date
1902 - 1903
Materials
Lead
Measurements
Each soldier (min) - 50 mm (height), Each soldier (max) - 80 mm (height)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 664627
Summary
Seven lead model soldiers on horseback. Of the first five, two are on brown horses (one of which has a broken front right leg) and one on a dark brown horse, the tail of which is missing. Another rider rides a dark brown horse which has a broken back leg. They have painted facial features and painted uniforms. Two wear navy jackets with yellow banding, red trousers, and navy hats with red plumes (one of which is missing). They have articulated right arms, one holding a broken rifle and one has lost his weapon. The other wears a navy jacket with yellow banding, navy trousers, and a navy hat with yellow banding and a red plume. The articulated right arm holds a drawn sword. Another rider rides a dark brown horse which has a broken back leg with a broken wooden repair. The soldier has painted facial features and wears a black uniform with yellow details, and a black hat with a red plume. The fifth soldier rides a small black horse and wears a khaki uniform with matching helmet, brown breeches and black boots . He holds a rifle in his right hand. Two more soldiers on horseback are in poor condition. The soldiers are wearing red painted uniforms with black painted hats. One is on a black horse, the other on a brown horse. The paint on the soldier on the black horse is missing, especially on his tunic where the grey lead can be seen. Both soldier's heads are loose and can be detached, these are only attached to the body by a piece of wood going down the neck-hole. The soldier on the brown horse is missing an arm. Both are wearing different uniforms. Total number of items is 7.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mr Lawrence Bray in May 1983.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of the horses' bellies: 'COPYRIGHT/ WM BRITAIN/ 2.2.1903' Underside of the small black horse's belly: 'COPYRIGHT/ MADE IN/ ENGLAND BRITAINS LTD/ PROPRIETORS' Underside of the black horse with a rider in red: 'PROPRIETORS / BRITAINS LTD / COPYRIGHT (the inscription of the other horse in this attic is mainly unreadable but 'Wm' can be seen as can '1903'.)'
Makers and roles
W. Britain , maker