Fancy a Knight out in Agincourt? (3 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

You may remember in an earlier post of mine, some months ago, I showed three of Britains "Knights of Agincourt", that I obtained as castings a while ago, and repainted in a different style, reflecting actual Knights of Old - and the heraldic emblems that were actually used by them. I resolved at the time, to try to obtain the remainder of those magnificent castings, originally sculpted by Roy Selwyn Smith, way back in 1951.

I mentioned at the time of my post, that I have always felt that Britains never really made the best of their painting of them - and gave them a new paint job, to reflect some "Real Knights of Old" - and some of the heraldic devices they used on their coats-of-arms (quite literally, emblazoned on their surcoats).

Well, I have been successful in obtaining the final two remaining mounted figures that I was missing ( as well as the five foot figures - but more about those later). I have just finished putting the first coat of varnish on these two new figures - which, as I did before, I have painted to reflect two actual Knights - who actually lived - and clad them in their respective equipment - using their heraldic devices they used at the time/dates mentioned.

Below you can see the results - so far. Behind my two jousting combatants - you can see how Britains originall depicted the pair back in 1954 - when they took over production of these figure. In front, you can see my "take" on the pair.

On the left, you can see Sir Thomas de Brotherton, Earl Marshall of England at the time (1334) as he fought in the Dunstable Tournament in that year. To the right, is Sire John Waunci (or Wauncey), just two years prior to that date - in 1322 - bearing his manificent purple eagle device on his shield at the Battle of Boroughbridge. I may add that the device on the shield - and that on the caparison of Brotherton are real - and taken from the book " A Dictionary of Heraldry" by Joseph Foster - as are the dates when they wore them. However - the way they are displayed is from my own imagination. The clours and the devices are however, correct.

When they are finished - I intend to do the same with the five foot figures which accompanied the five mounted figures - and display them all together. I will also use real knights for these too - so hope to make a really colourful display of from all ten figures. Before that - when these two are dry - I will show the Five mounted Knights together. Hope you like them - so far - johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Well done, John! I think your results are as good as the commercial makers who've made gloss knights--I'm thinking of Cuypers, or Hornung, I think it was, who also made tournament knights.

I've got molds to make foot figures, and I've thought about getting Tradition's kits--you're making me think that I ought to follow you down this path

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brad - well not too good a photo - but thanks for the vote of confidence!

I don't think you can go far wrong with Tradition's examples of knights - this below is the Black Prince, (Prince of Wales) - which I painted up from a casting a few years ago. Lovely thing to paint too - and started me off on this very colourful trail. Behind him is the book in question - stuffed full of ideas just bursting to get out.

I Have seen some of Bob Hornungs work - and they are an inspiration too.

Glad you like these - I will post the five of the "Knights of Agincourt" (so far) later tonight when all is dry. johnnybach

 

[GICOP]

Very nice jb, as per usual:salute::

I'm looking forward to the picture of the five "Knights of Agincourt" later this evening

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Dry enough to add to the other three. These are the five mounted figures as they are at the moment - which shows the other side of the newest two figures (far left and far right).

Another view - and the book in question - best Xmas present for a long while that!

And don't forget - all of these Knights - actually existed..................johnnybach

 

[thebritfarmer]

They're alright I suppose :wink2:

Great job jb never grows tiring looking at your work.

 

[GICOP]

SUPERB jb, many thanks for posting pictures of these great mounted figures :salute:::salute:::salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks both - I think that's what makes painting these figures so enjoyable. They have always been great sculpts. So alive and full of movement - and just crying out for painting up as something a bit more flamboyant than just a couple of plain primary colours. Great fun to do - and not TOO many - this time, either.^&grin johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Here's one last pic of the five - showing the details on each shield. This is what is shown in the book - and is what I begin with. The rest falls out from this detail. I do use illustrations of the original figures - to check where armour starts and material ends, for example - but a lot of the other decoration comes from studying medieval prints of the arrangement of designs on tunics and horse furniture.

So - nice to let the imagination go a bit - within limits of what was around at the time. jb.

 

[theBaron]

Wow, really nicely done, John! I do think you match the commercial artists I mentioned before, really well done, crisp and neat painting detail on the heraldry.

Might be time to expand my collecting area--though of course, I'm interested in German knights an area that is rather underrepresented.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Interesting to read that you have some moulds for foot-knoghts Brad. Are these German Knights? I would like to see what you produce from these - if you have any made up yet?

I have my five foot-knights to paint up yet - and have started - but grass-cutting has delayed them - then the BBQ needs to be lit - wine poured - Ahhh! It's all go here! jb

 

[aujj65]

Interesting to read that you have some moulds for foot-knoghts Brad. Are these German Knights? I would like to see what you produce from these - if you have any made up yet?

I have my five foot-knights to paint up yet - and have started - but grass-cutting has delayed them - then the BBQ needs to be lit - wine poured - Ahhh! It's all go here! jb

Johnny,

Yet another thread! I'm surprised that you have any time to do anything else apart from painting! ^&grin

These are very nice and I am looking forward to the foot versions.

Jeff

 

[theBaron]

Hi, John, I got the molds maybe 15 years ago from Castings, Inc--back then, ordered out of a hardcopy catalog via snail mail Today, they have a website: http://www.miniaturemolds.com/ Castings is the current-day descendant of the old Rappaport Bros. companies in the Thirties, who sold home-casting sets.

I have 2 silicon rubber molds, both for foot figures, a dismounted knight and a man-at-arms. They're generic enough that they could be painted as a knight from just about any country in Western Europe during the early and mid-Middle Ages, or perhaps in the Crusades, though, the man-at-arms wears more of an English-style helmet, I think, than a bassinet-style helmet more common in the Empire. If I remember correctly, the knight has only a mail hood, without a helmet.

Castings had more molds in that catalog, but I only got the ones I did as a test. But now I may have to add more from the series.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Gideon]

Magnificent job! Those Selwyn Smith sculpts are timeless and among the best of any toy soldier time period.

I once had an opportunity to see up close a collection of Richard Courtenay finished Selwyn Smith Agincourt figures. They were similar in feel to what you have done.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Brad - interesting site that - thanks for the link. I have never been tempted to try my hand at casting though - not brave enough to risk it! I admire those that do though. I just like painting them.

Thanks Gideon for you comments. If I have got anywhere close to Courteneys - then I accept your comments with extreme gratitude. These sculpts are - as you say - just timeless. They feel so alive when you handle them - and I just loved painting them freehand.

Just very pleased that others like them too.

Maybe there's a message in there somewhere for Britains to resurrect these somewhat forgotten treasures?

Jeff - yes - life does go on alongside the paint-pots. I must admit to burning the midnight oil a bit though lately. It is such an absorbing hobby - and I fear that I do get sidetracked a bit for the mundane aspects of life - like wine-tastings - eating - etc.,

I wouldn't change it though! johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Hi everyone - I think mUy old computer has just died - so have borrowed daughter's lap-top and am learning all over again how to post pictures to and from photobucket once again. Same thing - just very different screens etcetera - so if I make an error - please bear with me.

First picture below shows general painting of my five foot-knights (Knights of Agincourt) progressing at an early stage - when the shields have been chosen and completed. It's now up to me to decide how the rest of the figure is to be decorated.

The next pic shows the first foot figure completed. He is Richard (although there is some debate concerning his first name). le Staple - and this is his device at the siege of Rouen in 1418. I have decided to go with his name as Richard - because I like his shield. He is on foot - facing the charge from John de Boscawen, armed with a sword. If Richard misses with his lance - John is almost certain to hit with all the power of the charging destrier!

Good stuff this - I can have great fun and games with these when they are all completed!

Back later on - with a bit of luck. jb

 

[Gideon]

Thanks Gideon for you comments. If I have got anywhere close to Courteneys - then I accept your comments with extreme gratitude. These sculpts are - as you say - just timeless. They feel so alive when you handle them - and I just loved painting them freehand.

They have a mass which originates from the interior of the figure. Like in real life. The movement is derived from said mass. When a sculptor can capture that, you have a master.

In the same collection, I saw what the original Selwyn figures looked like painted by him. They were astounding. Britains bought the castings from him, prior to that it was his own line similar to Richard Courtenay and Baldet. They were the connoisseur figures of their time.

 

[Gideon]

These are Selwyns work, prior to being bought out by Britains. Eat your heart out!

 

[Gideon]

This one is a Freddy Ping who produced the Courtenay range after Richards passing.

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks for posting those particular photos of Courteney and Ping's work. I must admit that I had never seen those particular examples before aquiring my second hand figures - and then re-casts - finding that second hand book on Heraldry - and then getting the idea to paint them up that way - quite independantly.

Mine are just Humbrol painted - with a not very good brush - so are just for fun anyway. I'm certainly not conciously trying to replicate what you quite correctly state were the Conoisseur figures of their time. I read a bit more after your first post - via the magic of the Internet - about the progression of these figures - and found it very interesting, I must admit.

I'm just a painter of castings mostly, and am just very much enjoying what I do. This area is just another offshoot of my magpie collection. For me, the more colourful they are - the better I like them. And boy! these certainly give an opportunity for that! If I find any more - half as good as these - I will certainly expand this area a bit. I know that Traditiuon do some similar, these days, and have two examples of these too - so maybe Ill explore that area a bit later on.

Nice chatting about them to you though. I now know a bit more about them - so thanks for that chum. johnnybach