The massive tin soldier
half-round and full-round
The toy soldier is actually an alloy of lead, tin, and bismuth. It was initially primarily cast in the round, a sculptural style intermediate between the round and the bas-relief. The round is three-dimensional. Before 1870, France was largely absent from the toy soldier market, dominated by Germany, which exported its vast production to France and the United Kingdom. Manufacturers from Nuremberg, such as Heinrichsen and Haffner, or from Fürth, such as Allgeyer, dominated the market. Heinrichsen is a brand with a very interesting history; it spanned several production periods and dominated the market in the second half of the 19th century. The founder was Ernst Karl Peter Heinrichsen (1806-1888). He began training with various manufacturers and opened his company in 1839. He quickly became the best toy maker, earning the silver medal of the city of Munich in 1840. He exported a large portion of his production to France. His son Wilhelm took over the company in 1869 and, thanks to its high-quality and varied production, was able to profit from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. After a brief hiatus, he continued to export to France. His grandson produced soldiers until 1939. When the company ceased operations, the company had 16,000 molds, each capable of producing different pieces; no other brand is known to offer such a large number of models. The situation was such that in 1867, Allgeyer, a famous manufacturer from Fürth, won a prize at the Paris World's Fair. German toy soldiers, the most affordable and numerous, were sold in small boxes made of fir shavings, often by weight. A label indicated the box's contents; these figurines were affordable because tin was used in small quantities. They were flat figures, only a few millimeters thick and small in size (between 20 and 40 millimeters). These pieces were simply painted with bright colors; some manufacturers, to save paint, painted the figures on only one side. The Germans also dominated the market for solid lead soldiers, thanks to the following manufacturers: Heyde, Haffner, Noris, and Krause, who offered a very wide selection to German and international customers. From 1870, the French company C.B.G. began producing toy soldiers. These soldiers were quickly awarded prizes in various competitions where they distinguished themselves by their quality. Thus, CBG obtained the following awards: Silver Medal in 1878, Gold Medal in 1900 and member of the jury in 1889. Little by little, CBG, which offers a wide range of civilian and military products, established itself as a leading manufacturer on a global scale. Today, it is the only manufacturer still in operation, proof of its quality and reputation.
CBG Mignot:
An icon of French toys and military history in miniature
Founded in 1847, CBG (Cuperly-Blondel-Gerbeau) was born from the union of Augustin Cuperly, from a family of trinket makers, and Rose Alexandrine Blondel. While the company began with general production, it was in the late 1880s, under the leadership of Sosthène Gerbeau, that it turned to the manufacture of toy soldiers, thus beginning an adventure that would mark the history of military toys. Located on Rue Charlot, in the historic Marais district of Paris, the company quickly distinguished itself through the quality and originality of its figurines. Awards accumulated, including a gold medal at the 1900 World's Fair, which became a powerful marketing tool. These distinctions, proudly displayed on the boxes, are a testament to the craftsmanship and excellence of CBG. In 1912, Henri Mignot, Augustin Cuperly's great-grandnephew, took the reins of the company. A visionary, he extended the brand's reputation far beyond France, supplying figurines to prestigious families such as the British royal family. Mignot innovated by manufacturing "round-bosse" figurines, three-dimensional soldiers made of solid lead, elegantly painted and remarkably finished, in response to the dominance of German toys on the market. This transition marked a decisive turning point for the company, which successfully established itself internationally. CBG Mignot also expanded its product range, offering collections ranging from historical scenes, such as Napoleonic battles, to contemporary themes such as the great maneuvers of the French army or polar expeditions. The diversity of the figurines, often presented in refined diorama boxes, delighted children and collectors alike. The firm excels at capturing the spirit of its times, paying tribute to significant events such as the Russo-Japanese War and the exploits of the French army. In 1928, after celebrating its centenary, CBG merged with its long-standing competitor Lucotte, founded in 1765, to form "Établissements CBG-Jouets." This merger marked an important milestone, notably with the acquisition of the famous Parisian boutique Au Plat d'Étain. However, the rise of new materials such as aluminum in the interwar period, and then plastic after 1945, affected the brand. The brand went through difficult times but was taken over by Édouard Pemzec in 1992, allowing it to continue to exist to the present day.
