New Sets for September (2 Viewers)

[Ana Donzino]

Hi guys,

I'm beginning to work on the new sets for the show. The Durbar sets will be:

The State Elephant of Narsingarh
All the elephants on the Main Procession were State Elephants, but, as we have a Narsingarh elephant from the Retainers Review, I wanted to be clear that this is the Narsingarh elephant at the Main Procession.

Elephant with escorts of the right side


Guards on the left side


The Narsingarh State Elephant at the Retainers Review (no maharaja in the howda, just a servant)

The elephant will come along with 3 sets of escorts. There will be the usual groups from left and right, dressed quite differently. And instead of a band, I decided to make all the particular guys that are escorting the elephant at the RR. There are 2 men very well dressed carrying two ornamental sticks hanging from their left showlder. The program mentions mace-bearers, so it's probably them. They probably were state symbols.
There are 3 servants carrying bags or clothes at the back, they will be there too. And the guy on the right, bringing a kind of covered torch. I will reserarch about those items.

 

[Ana Donzino]

Second Group will be from Kota

Emblem and ornament carriers from Kota

Here is the original photo. You can see the Kota elephant behind the crowd, and the Kota Standardbearers elephant on the right. Both made already. Also, the small boy (almost at the left end) that inspired my children's music band from Kota.



This kind of photographs, with the groups posing, was very common. It was easier for the photographs to take pictures when they were standing rather than walking. It gave them more time to pose and manage focus and light.

There were two rehearsals for the parades, with almost all elephants and staff. Also, the day of the retainers Review, most states had to stand outside the Amphitheatre, on the fields, while waiting for their turn to go. So many chances of posing pictures.




I LOVE this picture. It's a digital scan from the original photograph that I saw in one of the albums at the British Library. The detail is amazing. I'm planning to make those ornament bearers (the ones that look like a long torch with feathers on the top). I will make them very colourful, they probably were. Then, there's a man carrying a long metal stick again, on his left showlder. A state emblem. Two more men with sticks, usual ones this time, very distinguished both. Lastly, those two amazing standards with their respective bearers. The one more to the left is a usual one, very decorated, but the one on the right has a whole in the middle and feathers all around. So cool.


Second set from Kota:

The Camel Riders rom Kota




I will be posting pictures of the process

Ana
PS: There is one more group of sets, I will announce them soon

 

[thebritfarmer]

Wonderful !!!




ALthough I was expecting horses and a carriage ^&grin

 

[zblang]

I can't wait to see (and buy) them! {sm4}

 

[Ana Donzino]

Horses will be too (I sound like Yoda)

Ana

Wonderful !!!




ALthough I was expecting horses and a carriage ^&grin

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Narsingarh elephant

I'm using my Rewa elephant as skeleton upon I work.



I applied the folds based on the photos I have


I also had to move the front line, and raise the back part, since the shapes are quite different


wrinkles on the elephant's legs

 

[Ana Donzino]

Applying the tale


The Camel Riders from Kota


Camel's head

Ana

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hello Ana,
thank you for posting, I love these "Behind The Scenes" reports. Very interesting to see how much planning and hard labour goes into the making of Toy Soldiers. Following with great interest :smile2:
Kind Regards
Wolfgang

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, Wolfgang!

 

[thebritfarmer]

Thanks Ana, not many manufacturers show these type of shots. It is appreciated to see how our collectables are made

 

[zblang]

I love this!!!! Thanks for sharing

 

[Ana Donzino]

Progress

Kota Camel rider


Narsingarh elephant

 

[Ana Donzino]

Let me know if you have any questions

Ana

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Ana,

Thanks for posting these photos of the development of the figures!! Many folks may not realize the effort that goes into these figures. Cant wait to see the finished ones.

Dave

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, Dave

 

[Ana Donzino]

The process continues

 

[Ana Donzino]

Here you can see both necklaces on the elephant's neck


The camel rider is ready now. 4 different heads, arm with flag, arm with cannon, arm holding reins, and arm resting. The musicians will be holding usual Indian instruments.

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

The process of the Raja of Narsingarh, so far

 

[Ana Donzino]

 

[Ana Donzino]

Still need to work on the sides of the howda, but I need the front piece so I can design the assembly.

More soon.

Ana