Meaning of Connaisseur-Style (1 Viewer)

[o!erlings]

Hi All
I'm new to the toy-soldier hobby, in fact, just bought a few figures. When browsing through Magazines and Websites, I'm often see this: painted in connaisseur-style , mostly combined with: designed in Russia made in China.
But what does this term mean: accuracy? Or artistic interpretation of the subject?
I'm originally coming from Scale and Military Modeling. Therefore I prefer a hyper realistic style. Is connaisseur-style the right thing to look for with this background ?
Regards
Eric

 

[jazzeum]

Are you referring to First Legion for their figures are sculpted in Russia but painted in China. Figures that are both painted and sculpted in Russia tend to be far more expensive, such as figures from AeroArt. First Legion may be more accurate than other non-Russian figures but they do occasionally make mistakes.

I’m not sure if that answers your question.

Brad

 

[zblang]

Connaiseur is sort of like “artisanal”. It doesn’t really mean anything. It has come to mean a high level of painting. Just be careful though and make sure you see the piece before buying. There’s a wide range of what people call connaiseur.
When a large manufacturer uses it, they are basically trying to convey that the painting is a higher quality than “toy soldier” standard.

 

[theBaron]

"Connoisseur style" means a style of painting with matte colors and with highlights and shading, subtly executed. Figures painted in a connoisseur style are usually also described as miniatures, whether military, historical or fantasy/sci-fi. The style can be said to overlap with the style you're probably familiar with from scale modeling.

The opposite of connoisseur style is the toy soldier style, which is not as detailed, with simple shading, if there is any shading at all, and often in a gloss finish.

The others have mentioned some brands or vendors of connoisseur style figures. The figures Aero-Art sells, and First Legion's figures, are very good examples to illustrate the style. The term does seem to have come into use with the advent of the higher-quality Russian figures on the Western market, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Before that time, it was more usual to call them miniatures, again, in contrast to toy soldiers.

For more examples of figures painted in connoisseur style, you might want to have a look in the PlanetFigure (www.planetfigure.com) or Timelines (www.timelinesforum.com) forums, which are forums for figure painters, who paint in connoisseur style. (At PlanetFigure, I'm the only one who paints in a toy soldier style).

I hope that helps clarify a little more.

Prost!
Brad

 

[o!erlings]

Thank you all for your replies.
Connaisseur Style is definitely that one I'm looking for.
Are K&C, FL, Thomas Gun and the W.Britain (matts) all in Connaisseur Style ?
Best regards
Eric

 

[theBaron]

I wouldn't say that King & Country paints its figures in connoisseur style. I wouldn't say that Britain's matte figures are, either. They are high-quality collector's toy soldiers, but that is not the same as connoisseur style. There may be those who disagree with me, but we'll see what their responses are.

First Legion certainly falls in on the spectrum of figures painted in a connoisseur style. In fact, FL is a maker who has made figures in connoisseur style more available to a wider range of collectors, than the Russian studios have done. Granted, their finish may not be as good as some of the individual pieces produced by various Russian studios, but that distinction may be very fine. But they are certainly a very good value, for their prices.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

I just noticed now that you're in Zürich-are you familiar with Alan and Marian Ball? They are a husband-and-wife sculptor-and-painter team, who produce figures that are most definitely connoisseur style. If you are familiar with them, think of their works--that's connoisseur style.

If you're not familiar with Alan and Marian, you can see their work here: http://www.mb-miniatures.com/pages/de/home.php?lang=DE

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

I wouldn't say that King & Country paints its figures in connoisseur style. I wouldn't say that Britain's matte figures are, either. They are high-quality collector's toy soldiers, but that is not the same as connoisseur style. There may be those who disagree with me, but we'll see what their responses are.

First Legion certainly falls in on the spectrum of figures painted in a connoisseur style. In fact, FL is a maker who has made figures in connoisseur style more available to a wider range of collectors, than the Russian studios have done. Granted, their finish may not be as good as some of the individual pieces produced by various Russian studios, but that distinction may be very fine. But they are certainly a very good value, for their prices.

Prost!
Brad

As Brad the Baron noted, First Legion is the only one that is Connoisseur style.

Brad

 

[Andanna]

As Brad the Baron noted, First Legion is the only one that is Connoisseur style.

Brad

For mass manufactured figures ....

And even that is becoming questionable as more and more new smaller manufacturers try to copy First Legion’s model. Cold Steel Miniatures comes to mind currently.

But I do agree with the Brads, First Legion is probably the manufacturer to check if you want Russian sculpted figures at a price that may permit creating a formation. It is apparent that First Legion’s flagship range is the Napoleonic period and that one of the owners has a background in napoleonic war gaming.

 

[jazzeum]

Yes, for mass manufactured figures. Obviously, figures made by Aeroart and other Russian makers and figures made on commission are in a different category. I don’t know if anyone has been able to copy FL successfully as Cold Steel has been rather quiet for awhile.

 

[bradleyl30]

I also agree with Brad the Baron's assessment and description.

 

[blaster]

Hi All,

My understanding of this is that "connoisseur" figures were always associated with Russian made figures which exploded onto the figure scene with their unbelievably fine painting style on cloaks and flags. The degree of ornamentation was sometimes fanciful but the execution was just exquisite. Always amazing to behold on ancients and medieval.

It doesn't seem quite right to compare these connoisseur figures with finely painted mass-produced figures, in my opinion.

Rgds Victor

 

[johnnybach]

EXPENSIVE{sm2}

 

[zblang]

To me, connoisseur also means limited production to some extent. I think first legion are amazing, but I’d call them connoisseur style.

 

[theBaron]

To me, connoisseur also means limited production to some extent. I think first legion are amazing, but I’d call them connoisseur style.

That coincides, too, with the term as applied to the individual figures produced by the various artists in the figure hobby, who show and compete in the various shows. Think Dennis Levy, Anders Heintz, Alan and Marian, Kostas Karietelas, Mike Blank, Stephen Mallia, among others whose names are now escaping me.

Prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

To me, connoisseur also means limited production to some extent. I think first legion are amazing, but I’d call them connoisseur style.

I have some figures by First Legion that are truly amazing and almost as good as some made by AeroArt.

Yes, they’re expensive but worth every penny, in my opinion.

 

[katana]

I do not think mass market figures and connoisseur figures can be equivalent. Connoisseur denotes distinct and above others in quality, one of a kind etc. The Russian makers offer different grades of painting and use the same casting, thus the figures no matter how detailed the paint are not unique art objects.

 

[bradleyl30]

I do not think mass market figures and connoisseur figures can be equivalent. Connoisseur denotes distinct and above others in quality, one of a kind etc. The Russian makers offer different grades of painting and use the same casting, thus the figures no matter how detailed the paint are not unique art objects.

I understand your point but disagree.

The revolutionary aspect of FL is providing connoisseur level figures at a more affordable price point due to the ability to mass produce.

I can mix FL with individually created connoisseur figures and cannot tell the difference. It is the level of detail provided which can be through ornamentation or realism.

 

[jazzeum]

Larry hit it on the nose. Some of the Seven Years War Prussians and the Landsknechts are amazing. AeroArt couldn’t make them any better. Unfortunately, if you don’t own any of these figures, you really can’t see the quality.

 

[bradleyl30]

Larry hit it on the nose. Some of the Seven Years War Prussians and the Landsknechts are amazing. AeroArt couldn’t make them any better. Unfortunately, if you don’t own any of these figures, you really can’t see the quality.

I would add the Agincourt, Ancient Greece and Thirty Years War ranges to that list.