Three Imperial Amigos

[George Stimson]

My uncle collected porcelain military figures, and when he acquired these I was all over them! Later, after he died, I told his widow that if she ever got tired of them I'd be happy to give them a home. Well, she finally did! So now I have these three guys -- Kaiser Wilhelm I, Generalfeldmarschall Graf Möltke, and Otto von Bismarck -- to keep me company in my office! (Note the cased Godet EK 1, for scale.)

[George Stimson]

I think that the detail on these is really remarkable. Here are close-ups of Möltke and Bismarck.

[George Stimson]

Here's the Kaiser. (A pity that the top of his Pickelhaube is missing! )
Has anyone else ever seen figures like these?

[AFF96]

Hey George!
Truly awesome Tres Amigos!
Great additions!!
What are they made of?
Thanks,
Greg

[Christian J]

Great pieces.
Did Moltke really spell his name with ümläüts?

[VtwinVince]

No umlaut on Moltke. Those are really fantastic figures, I see why you wanted them.

[Mike Dunn]

Really nice George, is there any makers marks on the bottom? Would be interesting to see what else they produced. Mike

[streptile]

I have a small nice collection of memorabilia of specifically these three personages. Some cigarette cards, some portraits, etc. It was these three, arguably along with Roon, who created the German Reich in 1870-1871.

These are very nice indeed!

[George Stimson]

"Did Moltke really spell his name with ümläüts?"

In the book I copied his name out of, The Iron Cross, A History 1813 - 1957, by Gordon Williamson, there were umlauts.

Mike, there is a mark on the bottom, DEPONIRT and a six-pointed star between two circles.

[Kaleun]

Maybe Williamson was "overcompensating". I am always intrigued to find an Umlaut, where there is no need, and vice versa. It is difficult...

Anyway, very nice figurines, and great detail to boot. Congratulations!

[VtwinVince]

Indeed, it was Moltke who was instrumental in defeating France, and he certainly towered over his nephew from 1914. I wonder if the South African racing driver, Dion von Moltke, is a relation.

[streptile]

For anyone interested in Moltke, his family and his times, I can recommend this book highly:

Blood and Iron: From Bismarck to Hitler the Von Moltke Family's Impact on German History

I've read many books on the period 1864-1871. This is by far one of the most accessible "popular" histories that covers that time. It's beautifully written, not overly academic in style, and provides a nice window onto the most interesting period in recent German history (1864-1945).

[MauserKar98k]

Those are some great figurines!

[gregM]

Very cool

[Biro]

.....Mike, there is a mark on the bottom, DEPONIRT .....

.... Which I think is referencing that fact that it was "deposited"' - presumably with a patent office of some sort. Nice George

Marshall