KING & COUNTRY DISPATCHES
August 2018
Here I am writing this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’ after just returning from quite possibly the most successful and enjoyable ‘Three City Tour of Australia’ yet as part of K&C’s Annual OzFest Down Under trip to meet’n’ greet King & Country Collectors and Dealers in that great country.
As usual the visit began in Brisbane with our good friend
Brett Williams of
The Toy Soldier Workshop before moving on to Sydney and meeting up with
Peter & Sven of
Peter Nathan Toy Soldiers. The final destination was Melbourne and the linkup with
Howard Woods and his
Toy Soldier Experience.
Each dealer provided excellent venues and a host of great attractions in the shape of dioramas... competitions... lucky draws... and special guests
(including yours truly) that drew
‘full houses’ at each event.
Simultaneously, I had the valuable opportunity to meet and talk with many individual Aussie collectors on a one-to-one basis that as usual provided a wealth of great ideas and original suggestions.
The
‘Aussie’ hospitality and good humour throughout the entire trip was well up to Australia’s legendary reputation and standard!
Even the
‘winter weather’ was generally beautiful, especially in Brisbane and Sydney... Melbourne, not so much until a sunny last day!
However, it’s the people who make the place and Australia is a fantastic place to visit... If you ever get the opportunity to make it
‘down under’ – don’t miss it!
And so, back to the ‘salt-mines’ and here’s what is appearing in August...
1. WHAT’S NEW...?
Coming in August
A. Napoleon & Josephine
Over the years K&C has produced more than a few figures of
Napoleon Bonaparte however this is the first time we have designed and made a special 2-figure set that includes one of the great loves of his life...
Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814).
Her marriage to Napoleon was her second, her first husband being guillotined during the
‘Reign of Terror’ that followed the revolution of 1789.
Already the mother of two children before she met Napoleon in 1795 she was six years older than him. Smitten by her charms and beauty they married just one year later.
Their married life afterwards was far from perfect with both indulging in extramarital affairs. Eventually, Napoleon chose to divorce Josephine because of her inability to provide an heir. Both however retained a great fondness for each other that survived their divorce in 1810 and lasted until their deaths... Josephine in 1814 and Napoleon himself in 1821.
View attachment 235560
NA414 “Napoleon & Josephine”
Here we see Napoleon himself dressed in the uniform of a
Colonel of Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. It was the
Chasseurs of the Guard who usually provided the personal escort to the Emperor and he often wore the regiment’s uniform in recognition of their loyal service.
Josephine meanwhile is gracefully attired in a pale blue and delicately embroidered
‘classical-styled’ dress complete with a wine velvet ‘
manteau’ edged with ermine and decorated with gold, hand-sewn motifs.
NA415 “Sapeur of the Grenadiers”
This figure is in ‘
campaign dress’ complete with his traditional axe and a
‘Musket’ with fixed bayonet on his back.
His sleeve badge consists of the
‘crossed axes’ . He is also armed with a short sabre.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
should of ducked and weaved !!
