Connoisseur Figures (3 Viewers)

[Combat]

A grumpy looking August von Mackensen - new from Aeroart:

 

[lancer]

A grumpy looking August von Mackensen - new from Aeroart:

This is a great figure. It really captures the man's presence. Von M had a huge reputation in post-WW1 Germany. Nice get. -- lancer

 

[BLReed]

..For example, the CS models give me the impression more of chess pieces with those bases.

LOL. Some of them are chess pieces. Here is a picture of Charles Stadden's Tower of London chess set. Not mine, but from an auction catalog. Not detail enough to see the chess men, but you can get an idea of the set. A Connoisseur for a more sophisticated individual perhaps.

Lot 213: The Tower of London pewter chess set, by Charles Stadden, 1978,
Auction House: Bonhams
Auction Location: London, United Kingdom
Auction Date: October 14, 2008
Sold:£660
Description: by Charles Stadden, 1978,
set no. 75 from a limited edition of 500, the pewter chessmen depicting
various historical personalities associated with the history of the Tower of
London, on an accompanying wooden and leather mounted chess table, with
an inscribed plaque, and a charter of ownership signed by the Constable of
Her Majesty's Tower of London,----the king 11cm high, the pawn 8.5cm high,
the table 81cm wide.

 

[Combat]

This is a great figure. It really captures the man's presence. Von M had a huge reputation in post-WW1 Germany. Nice get. -- lancer

Unfortunately, Von M is not mine. He is listed on ebay at the moment. I did get the Hindenburg prototype figure.

 

[lancer]

Unfortunately, Von M is not mine. He is listed on ebay at the moment. I did get the Hindenburg prototype figure.

Sorry for the misunderstanding but the Hindenburg is an equally good get, IMO. Do they do Ludendorff? They are just great figures. -- lancer

 

[Combat]

Sorry for the misunderstanding but the Hindenburg is an equally good get, IMO. Do they do Ludendorff? They are just great figures. -- lancer

They have done Hindenburg, Mackensen, Lundedorff, and the Kaiser before with a different artist. Those were top of line quality. Also 60mm which is a bit unusual for Aeroart as they mostly do 54mm. They were made in ridiculously small numbers and sold only on ebay to my knowledge. For example, the Aeroart book lists three Mackensen and Hindenburg figures produced. When all was said and done there were probably a few more, but not many. I posted a few pictures of the some that I managed to get:

 

[lancer]

They have done Hindenburg, Mackensen, Lundedorff, and the Kaiser before with a different artist. Those were top of line quality. Also 60mm which is a bit unusual for Aeroart as they mostly do 54mm. They were made in ridiculously small numbers and sold only on ebay to my knowledge. For example, the Aeroart book lists three Mackensen and Hindenburg figures produced. When all was said and done there were probably a few more, but not many. I posted a few pictures of the some that I managed to get:

Hi Combat. In the picture with the Kaiser in the middle, is the figure on the right supposed to be Rommel? It looks sort of like a picture I once saw of him from WW1. -- Al

 

[Combat]

Hi Combat. In the picture with the Kaiser in the middle, is the figure on the right supposed to be Rommel? It looks sort of like a picture I once saw of him from WW1. -- Al

I'm not exactly sure who or what he is supposed to be. I asked on the forum a couple of times. No one seems to know.

Here is Erich von Falkenhayn and a guy who resembles a WWI version of Sgt. Schultz:

 

[theweinz]

Great WWI figures! Some of the average Russian stuff (alot of what Aeroart puts out)does have a tendency to have exaggerated shading, almost like theater. However, that is the charm of the pieces as well. I have always liked the Chas Stadden pieces because they are classic, but most look quite stiff and the casting and the painting cannot stand against some of the modern day elite Russian studios, and what Leibowitz does at Metal Modeles.
JW

Yo Trooper, sorry mate have to knock this somewhat on the painting. Think the shading in the creases is well over exaggerated for a Connoisseur figure. Thought they were painted by Master painters, if so the standard is slipping somewhat. Put a Chas Stadden model up to show you what I mean, the shading should not catch the eye as your model does. Only my honest opinion.
Bernard.

 

[Cardigan600]

Great WWI figures! Some of the average Russian stuff (alot of what Aeroart puts out)does have a tendency to have exaggerated shading, almost like theater. However, that is the charm of the pieces as well. I have always liked the Chas Stadden pieces because they are classic, but most look quite stiff and the casting and the painting cannot stand against some of the modern day elite Russian studios, and what Leibowitz does at Metal Modeles.
JW

Yo Trooper, fully agree with your comment on what you call the Russian elilte figures of today, they are not believable some look like the belong in the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo paintings. Dont quite understand, "But most look quite Stiff" When I made the comment on the shading (which I stand by), it was just a honest observation, and was not trying to make a comparison between The Russian Elite & Chas Stadden models, and did not expect such a negative comment from a Eminent collector. I have spoken to Aeroart on the subject between the Russian Elite and Chas Stadden models, and they say that the Russians have taken the painting to a new level, cannot disagree with that, but they also said when it came down to Chas Stadden 90mm Military models it was hard to better The Sculpting put out by Chas. But when you see a plain pewter model against the painted version, its the Artist that bring the model to life. So back to my original comment on the shading, still say it is quite poor if it was painted by a Russian master, it should blend in an not catch the eye. The other models shown by Combat are much better painted models.
Bernard.

 

[theweinz]

Bernard,

I did not mean the "most look stiff" comment to be necessarily negative. Perhaps I should rephrase to "some look stiff." I have always appreciated all military miniatures and my comment refers more to the era they are from than the Stadden figures themselves. I think Labayen and Lasset figures suffer from some of the same (I posted that grenadier a Cheval a while back). It was the interpretation at the time. Casting, painting, and, I think at least, sculpting have come a long way. I own some examples of each and I love them, but the art of the figure has moved on. Anyway, just my opinion.
JW

 

[Combat]

I have to wonder a bit at the ebay strategy of putting a minimum bid on a new Aeroart prototype figure like Mackensen. Once that is done and a bidding war is initiated the figure will sell over the "buy it now" price. So by trying to save $30 the first bidder ends up paying much, much more than the buy it price or not getting the figure.

 

[marco55]

Why are the Russian painters considered the elite?I'm sure their are people in other countries that can paint as well as them.I see beautiful painted figures on Planet Figure from all over the world but especially Spain,Italy and Greece.
Mark

 

[VIRIATO]

Why are the Russian painters considered the elite?I'm sure their are people in other countries that can paint as well as them.I see beautiful painted figures on Planet Figure from all over the world but especially Spain,Italy and Greece.
Mark

Yes, that's true. But although I am not a specialist (I only have 2 of these Russian style figures in my collection) I have heard that some of these painters are art students of even art majors, so not your ordinary painter here.
I consider this figure to be the best I have in my collection:

There surely is something unique in the best Russian style, but of course not all that is Russian is that good. I generally love these figures and would like to add a few whenever I can (trouble of course).
One of the best (and a great example of why they have elite status), IMHO:
http://www.soldiers-neva.com/redirect.php?gorun=1&lang=en

Paulo

 

[Combat]

Why are the Russian painters considered the elite?I'm sure their are people in other countries that can paint as well as them.I see beautiful painted figures on Planet Figure from all over the world but especially Spain,Italy and Greece.
Mark

From what I know about it, you have talented artists in Russia who can make a decent living painting toy soldiers. That's not the case in most other European countries where the higher cost of living makes it prohibitive. Either the artist could not make a living or the price of the figures would be even higher. As it is, many collectors can't afford the Russian figures. If they were produced in France or Italy, then the extra cost would put them beyond the means of almost everyone.

 

[VIRIATO]

From what I know about it, you have talented artists in Russia who can make a decent living painting toy soldiers. That's not the case in most other European countries where the higher cost of living makes it prohibitive. Either the artist could not make a living or the price of the figures would be even higher. As it is, many collectors can't afford the Russian figures. If they were produced in France or Italy, then the extra cost would put them beyond the means of almost everyone.

Hmm, that's an interesting insight, thanks for sharing.


Paulo

 

[Combat]

Couple of Indians from Aeroart. I bought these a long time ago - don't see them very often. Also Attila (middle) and the Huns.

 

[marco55]

From what I know about it, you have talented artists in Russia who can make a decent living painting toy soldiers. That's not the case in most other European countries where the higher cost of living makes it prohibitive. Either the artist could not make a living or the price of the figures would be even higher. As it is, many collectors can't afford the Russian figures. If they were produced in France or Italy, then the extra cost would put them beyond the means of almost everyone.

That makes a lot of sense Combat.
Mark

 

[Combat]

I have to wonder a bit at the ebay strategy of putting a minimum bid on a new Aeroart prototype figure like Mackensen. Once that is done and a bidding war is initiated the figure will sell over the "buy it now" price. So by trying to save $30 the first bidder ends up paying much, much more than the buy it price or not getting the figure.

I see the Mackensen figure went for $235 - about $70 over the original buy it now price.

 

[Gebhard]

I see the Mackensen figure went for $235 - about $70 over the original buy it now price.

Never could understand this overpaying phenomenon , I guess the old "a fool and his money are soon parted " would apply here . Gebhard