Durbar & Mortimer Menpes (2 Viewers)

[PolarBear]

The 2009 WB Catalog is illustrated with paintings by artist Mortimer Menpes. He traveled the world and one of the countries he visited was India. While there he witnessed the Delhi Dubar. His paintings have been an inspiration for WB's new series. The captions below were on the original postcards that date from the early 20th C and are reproduced below:

Menpes, Mortimer (1855-1939)
He was born in Australia, but came to England and studied under Whistler. He liked to paint exotic subjects and illustrated a number of books on foreign countries. He was a war artist for the Black and White during the Boer War.

1. A Popular Stall: Northern India
A Popular Stall, Northern India. Eatables of all kinds, especially sweetmeat delicacies, are prominently displayed in all Indian bazaars. The vendor, usually the producer also, may generally be seen at the rear of the stall, boiling, or prepring by other ways, fresh supplies to meet the continuous demand of customers.

2. A Belle of Northern India
A Belle of Northern India. The women of Delhi and district are, to Western eyes, rather more pleasing than those of many other parts of India. They often affect a swinging bell-shaped skirt of striking colour and are decorated profusely with armlets and anklets that jingle rhythmically with their stride.

3. Water-Carriers at Nutha

 

[PolarBear]

4. A Street Scene, Delhi
Street Scene, Delhi. To pass through the streets of Delhi, threading one's way through its countless denizens - men, women, children, bulls, camels, oxen, etc. - is to walk in a dreamland. The kaleidoscope of colour, the indescribable odour, the dust or mud, according to season, all blend to the sense and become a lasting impression upon the mind of the beholder.

5. A Native Group
Men in traditional Indian attire including turbans and dhotis.

6. A Rajput of Rajgarh.
A Rajput or soldier.
Rajputs claim descent from the ancient royal warrior dynasties of India and have roots to Rajputana, or Rajasthan in independent India. Their turbans, and flowing beards and reputation for bravery made them notable subjects for painters like the English painter Mortimer Menpes (1855-1938). He visited India in the early part of the century and made a series of paitings included in Flora Steel's book India, of which this postcard is one example

 

[PolarBear]

Here is a link to the book India by Flora Steel that was illustrated by Menpes.

(The entire book can be downloaded from Google)

http://books.google.com/books?id=wP...a=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1

 

[thebritfarmer]

Many thanks for this info Randyit will come in handy in the coming months when I hopefully start collecting the Durbar. . India is a place I would love to visit.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Great information Randy! Scott I am glad there are a few other folks out there who have decided to join Pat and me on the road to India! The Durbar line is just fantastic and I think its going to be a real hit with folks. I am very much looking forward to discussing it and collecting the new figures.

All the best

Dave

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Guys,

Great information Randy! Scott I am glad there are a few other folks out there who have decided to join Pat and me on the road to India! The Durbar line is just fantastic and I think its going to be a real hit with folks. I am very much looking forward to discussing it and collecting the new figures.

All the best

Dave

Thanks Dave,

I am really looking forward to this new line. I was going to try collecting the old glossy WB line but I think it would be a lost cause. I like how the news series also has included a couple of civilians and not just jumped straight in with the military personnel.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Just pre-order the new matte Durbar line.......can't wait !!!!

 

[wadepat]

Just pre-order the new matte Durbar line.......can't wait !!!!

Hi Scott,

Congratulations! I think you will really enjoy the Durbar and it is certainly nice to have you join the ranks of Durbar collectors. Did you pre-order the entire group of new Durbar figures?

I have pre-ordered the elephant, but my budget will not allow me to pre-order the remainder of the figures. I will have to acquire them over a period of time. The rumors indicate that Britains has already committed quite a number of Elephant sets to pre-orders. If anyone is interested in this set, they are well advised to reserve one via a pre-order.

Again, congratulations on a fine purchase!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Scott,

Congratulations! I think you will really enjoy the Durbar and it is certainly nice to have you join the ranks of Durbar collectors. Did you pre-order the entire group of new Durbar figures?

I have pre-ordered the elephant, but my budget will not allow me to pre-order the remainder of the figures. I will have to acquire them over a period of time. The rumors indicate that Britains has already committed quite a number of Elephant sets to pre-orders. If anyone is interested in this set, they are well advised to reserve one via a pre-order.

Again, congratulations on a fine purchase!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Hi Pat,

Thanks......yes I did order the whole set. The reason I was able to do this is that my better half is buying the elephant for me as a treat for quitting smoking.

I think it will very sucessful and am looking forward to seeing photos of the actual releases. After what has been released by WB I don't think I will be disappointed.

Scott

 

[wadepat]

Hi Pat,

Thanks......yes I did order the whole set. The reason I was able to do this is that my better half is buying the elephant for me as a treat for quitting smoking.

I think it will very sucessful and am looking forward to seeing photos of the actual releases. After what has been released by WB I don't think I will be disappointed.

Scott

Hi Scott,

You have many reasons to be congratulated, not the least of which is having such a thoughtful wife! Now, if you can just figure out what to give up next when the second elephant is released............

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[PolarBear]

Illustrated London News October 2, 1877
Imperial Durbar, Delhi
Proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India

 

[thebritfarmer]

Ken do you have an ETA on when we might see actual production pieces of the other 5 Durbar pieces?

 

[WBritain]

Hi Scott:

Production and pre-production pieces from the Durbar are starting to roll in now and can be seen at the upcoming events at The Toy Soldier Shoppe on April 18, and at the MFCA show April 24/25 and Gettysburg show April 26. They will also be pictured in the Spring/Summer Supplement due out in May 2009.

All of the Durbar pieces are sculpted by Alan Ball. Ken's having too much fun with all of the new ACW, some Napoleonic, Zulu, WWII and WWI pieces!

All the Best,

Richard

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Scott:

Production and pre-production pieces from the Durbar are starting to roll in now and can be seen at the upcoming events at The Toy Soldier Shoppe on April 18, and at the MFCA show April 24/25 and Gettysburg show April 26. They will also be pictured in the Spring/Summer Supplement due out in May 2009.

All of the Durbar pieces are sculpted by Alan Ball. Ken's having too much fun with all of the new ACW, some Napoleonic, Zulu, WWII and WWI pieces!

All the Best,

Richard

Hi Richard,

I did wonder who was the sculptor for the Durbar series. Alan has done a wonderful job and I can't wait to have them all on display in my cabinet. WB just keeps getting better and better and I have always enjoyed collecting the figures since I was 5 years old. Thanks again for the information.

Regards

Scott

 

[thebritfarmer]

Here is Lord Kitchener Looks like a great figure.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Hi Scott:

Production and pre-production pieces from the Durbar are starting to roll in now and can be seen at the upcoming events at The Toy Soldier Shoppe on April 18, and at the MFCA show April 24/25 and Gettysburg show April 26. They will also be pictured in the Spring/Summer Supplement due out in May 2009.

All of the Durbar pieces are sculpted by Alan Ball. Ken's having too much fun with all of the new ACW, some Napoleonic, Zulu, WWII and WWI pieces!

All the Best,

Richard

No pictures from anyone at any of these shows

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Scott,

I asked the same question. lets hope someone took a few photos for us.

All the best

Dave

 

[Andanna]

I did, but except the elephant, nothing traveled to the shows this weekend:

 

[thebritfarmer]

It's shame the other figures weren't there, but thank you very much for the pictures of the elephant Andanna. I get wait to receive mine.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I was just having a look at the Black Watch band from the Museum Collection. Were the Black Watch at the Durbar of 1903? The new figures could be added to the matte Durbar if they were.