Bayeux Tapestry Flat Plastic Toy Soldiers Andrey from Russia has made us aware of new set of figures. A company has done 12 soft plastic flat Norman figures based on the Bayeux Tapestry or Embroidery. This piece was work was commissioned to celebrate the history of William the Conqueror gaining England. It is 231 feet long and shows the history from the events of 1064–1066 ending with the battle of Hastings.
Bayeux Tapestry Flat Plastic Toy Soldiers The Figures
The Russian company that is doing these figures has done 12 different Norman figures. They are soft plastic.
The figures are avaialble in red, blue, silver and green.
Here we have the Normans figure in a blue.
Here have two Normans in green. One is with a spear and shield The other Norman is swinginga two handed axe overhead.
In this photo you have three Normans. One left is with sword and shield. Middle figure is walking with a two handed axe with a shield on his back. The final figure is standing with two handed axe overhead.
The bottom row has the final seven poses. We start of with another Norman with two handed axe. Next to him is a Norman with bow. Third figure is a Norman with a spear overhead and with shield. Fourth figure is standing with a banner. Fifth figure is a Norman with spear overhead and shield. The pose is slightly different from pose three. sixth pose is still another Norman with spear and shield. This time the spear is resting on the top of the shield. The final pose is a Norman with a spear shield pose is different from the other figures. It is interesting to note that several figures have arrows in their shields.
Here we have a closeup of some of the Normans in Green
Here we have the Normans in silver
This photo gives you the size of these figures.
Bayeux Tapestry Flat Plastic Toy Soldiers Final Thoughts
This is an interesting set. As I told Andrey flats are not great sellers here in the United States. We only had Marx and Bonnie Brite of the top my head do flats commercially. The notorious comic book offers of figures many were flat figures as well. These figures will sell well in Europe where flats are more pouplar. I am sure there are some American who will buy them.
Andrey will have the in very near future.
The maker of these figures has done an excellent job of capturing the style of the original Bayeux Tapestry. I think they will appeal to history buffs interested in the period. I bet they would sell well in museums etc. if the maker could get them there.
Beauty! I love these!
I like then, because as child I was expose to most former Soviet era plastic toy soldier in flat style I will definitely get these, I do have several Russian sets in flat as child and some bough again as nostalgia plus few ex lead mold figures made in plastic as I show before.
In comics/else produced for US and other countries I had not collect then any how.
Still will be great if they decide to make another set in non flat style of course.
The tapestry capture most William’s Norman and mercenary clothing- armor, however was poor representing Harold’s army of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian Danish soldiers in most part. Still is one of the oldest early medieval era art huge depiction …
Great news and wonderful set.
Thanks Andrey…
Didn’t they do these on the back page of old comic books?
There one or two US comic book medieval sets as far i know.
Both are smaller scale and representing late period heavy armor knights.
There is other w Roman type figures.
As well US CW ,American Revolution plus Custers and westerns sets plus army.
European figurines I don’t think they had cover this era or battles.
German margarine figuren had cover plenty medieval in flat but not this.
I like these a lot, and if I had unlimited toy soldier funds I would definitely get them.
As Daniel Murphy said, museum gift shops would be a great place for these. I would think University book shops and Renaissance Fairs might also provide a good market.
Mark.
Interesting you mention the Renaissance festival as in US most medieval shows are included in this type festival .
I had been part of many in NY area.
Here in upstate NY there is one huge that last longer than any I think in the country.
Sterling festival.
http://www.sterlingfestival.com/
It is located in what is call “finger lake region” in Upstate NY close where I live bordering the Ontario lake.
I had been several time. They make tournaments,battles ,games .Have food , cabin and tents to spend days there and plenty hotels near as well,they sale a lot stuff.
Incredible they made reference to Hasting and Robing Hood as well William Tell and King Arthur.
Yet the representation is made by most time late armor knights and few in XIII century era dressing .But nice very well done shows .
Yet after going there for years .Not single knight related to soldier had been found,not even cheap cloned Chinese production or else.
Few vendor bring some action figures knights and resale then x high price as if were super souvenirs .
Sad not interest as plenty of children would buy it.
For years they sold plenty plastic knight toy armor,shield,swords and helmet.
But then “The safety” or “Co median safety Dpt”come and impose very “strict” rules after few minor silly complain that end selling the armor plastic set x children with (foam swords and not point-tip) and soft shield,only hard helmet x “protection”.
I was appalled by it but once again show the lack of brain of today mentality regarding real children interaction.
Any ways there other Renaissance show done one in one weekend in NYC-Manhattan
location is at the (Cloister Museum and For Tryon park) in the north west part of Manhattan island
Very interesting and with same activities as other just that is done two day.
The museum (The Cloisters) is the oldest medieval collection in US ,brought by Rockefeller Jr and the Cloister itself is a reconstruction made of 4 dismounted true real monasteries from Europe and brought here stone by stones in ships in 1906-1930s .
Is impressive and very recommended visit with real medieval knight,nobles tomb/sarcophagus tapestries ,carving ,armor among many inside. A awesome place that once you are inside transport you back to medieval eras in incredible way.
There is a garden made at style suppose to be done back in years in medieval period and show you ways they cultivate the land as well other things.
The wall is full of inscription in Latin as well …
You may google it easy and read more…
The Renaissance show is done outside in the huge park (Tryon park)that is situated where the famous battle of Fort Washington during revolution was was fought and minor parts of the old fort stones still are there .
Another impressive place as mark one of early first big battles -defeat of American revolution,still costly to the British and last fort place surrender to US army under Washington when Britain retreat from NYC .Another recommended place.
The park also is the highs hill terrain area of NYC Manhattan island and has an spectacular view of Hudson river ,the NJ shore line and the city itself.
Back to Renaissance festival/shows .I had only found vintage figures brought by few vendors there,again not new stuff in least 6 times at had been.
Inside museum the shop did carry PLASTOY and old Simba knights figures but nothing else.
Your point is very well valid and should be taken in consideration ….
Unfortunately these places I been tell me museum shop owners or managers do not have any retail idea and not wiling to get more money by getting cheap products or not cheap and place then in the hands of parents that come with children .
It is sad how the toys had become so poor observed in museum else stores and let to else. It looks like interaction with real toys in hands is been neglected and the digital era is more important to keep children like zombies focusing in one screen only .
My thoughts…
Nice looking figures in Good exciting poses as well, And I can see them selling well. However its a shame to me that they are Flat figures. Ive never been into flat figures so I personally wont be buying them.
They are nice figures; I’ve never been in to flats either.
I remember going to various historic sites as a kid and being able to pick up toy soldiers or some accessory or other that could be used in my battles that had something to do with the site in question. I still have a few – and even though they are in my collection I still associate them with and recall the memory when I come across them in my projects. I believe the museums don’t realize the opportunities they are missing on so many levels by not carrying quality figures instead of some of the junk I see in their gift shops these days. But, what do I know? Toy soldiers were just the beginning of a lifelong love of history – that became my profession.
Awesome ! Interesting Subject !
Nice to see new figures of any type.
I have always looked into any museum & historic site gift shop in the hope of finding toy soldiers. Some of my best figures were found there.
Thanks Billy for the video.
Very nice figures. The flat style compliments the images from the Bayeaux Tapestry well, better than scale 3D figures, in my opinion. I’d like to get some. But…they are representations of images of the ‘Saxons’ from the Tapestry, not the Normans. I understand that the same maker did produce a set of Normans, as well. I’d love to find some of them, too.
These are wonderful figures…approximately 54mm in size and very durable. I have purchased several boxes of the Normans and Saxons sets to use in a Bayeux tapestry Diorama. I thinks they will sell very well….if they are marketed well….. even in the U.S. But as with ANY product of this nature. There has to be an interest in the time period. Toy soldiers. and in the Novelty of figures which are designed to reflect the tapestry and not so much history.