Tell me about Courtenay! (1 Viewer)

[zblang]

Watching auction after auction, i notice that these always go for hundreds of dollars each. I was just wondering what the reason was. are they very scarce? No longer made, etc? Just by looking at them, I never understand the cost. I like to have some of everything in my collection and don't have any of these or Greenwood&Ball (for the same reason). So, educate a poor lost soul from Massachusetts!
Thanks
Zach

 

[ucla1967]

Watching auction after auction, i notice that these always go for hundreds of dollars each. I was just wondering what the reason was. are they very scarce? No longer made, etc? Just by looking at them, I never understand the cost. I like to have some of everything in my collection and don't have any of these or Greenwood&Ball (for the same reason). So, educate a poor lost soul from Massachusetts!
Thanks
Zach

I don't personally collect Courtenay figures, as they are too rich for my blood, but my good friend Bob Walker does. So, this is all I know about them. They are not really toy soldiers, per se; it would be more correct to call them connoisseur models. Starting in the 1930s, Richard Courtenay produced a series of English and French 14th century knights, both on foot and mounted. They were noted for their heraldry and animation. In the 1940s, one could buy his foot knights for about $5 USD and mounted knights for $15 USD. Courtenay died in the 1960s and his molds were ultimately acquired by Peter Greenhill in the 1970s. The knights were then produced as Greenhill/Courtenay and were so marked on their bases. There was a Phillips auction in the early 1980s where Courtenay's knights went for as much as $500 each, which set records at that time. I have seen them recently sell for several thousand dollars each.

 

[zblang]

Thanks Mike

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Mike is totally on the money with that Info! Courtenay have some amazing value and for the period when they were produced some amazing detail. If you have any or manage to get one for a good price consider yourself lucky indeed!

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Zach - for the full story - get someone to buy you this gorgeous book for your birthday or Christmas. Knowing your interest in knights of Old - believe me - you won't want to put it down. It will tell you the whole story - from Courtney - through Freddy Ping, Roy Selwyn-Smith up to date - with Peter Greenhill and some of the modern day Knight producers. It's also stuffed full of glorious pictures from most of the well known ( and lesser known) makers.

Don't worry if you don't know who some of these names are - by the end - you will - and you will have enriched your knowledge on the subject massively.

All the best - jb.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heraldic-Mi...=medieval+miniature+knights+-+peter+greenhill

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Johnny,

Great Book! Have one in my storage along with a lot of others but it was a super book with a ton of great photos.

Dave

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Johnny,

Great Book! Have one in my storage along with a lot of others but it was a super book with a ton of great photos.

Dave

Hi Dave. When I'm Channel-hopping, it's the only one I take with me. Fabulous book - and really tells the history of "The Model Soldier" extremelly well. I got mine as a previously owned book from Amazon UK. Best £15 I ever spent. I also use it sometimes, as a source document for Heraldry - when I want to paint up a new casting. jb

 

[theBaron]

I've got the Greenhill book, too, and I'll second that, it's a valuable addition to any toy soldier library.

Mike is right on. Courtenay's figures were already highly prized during his lifetime, particularly for the quality of the painting. His research was meticulous. And so, they command high prices at auction.

I don't have any, myself, but I do enjoy seeing them.

Prost!
Brad

 

[zblang]

Zach - for the full story - get someone to buy you this gorgeous book for your birthday or Christmas. Knowing your interest in knights of Old - believe me - you won't want to put it down. It will tell you the whole story - from Courtney - through Freddy Ping, Roy Selwyn-Smith up to date - with Peter Greenhill and some of the modern day Knight producers. It's also stuffed full of glorious pictures from most of the well known ( and lesser known) makers.

Don't worry if you don't know who some of these names are - by the end - you will - and you will have enriched your knowledge on the subject massively.

All the best - jb.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heraldic-Mi...=medieval+miniature+knights+-+peter+greenhill

Just ordered it - thanks for the recommendation

 

[johnnybach]

Pleasure - as well as being highly educational about one of our favourite subjects - I'm sure you will enjoy it too. jb