Rights Holder: National Museums Liverpool
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Unique ID: LVPL-6623EA
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast lead alloy toy soldier of Post-medieval to modern date (AD 1700-1850). The toy is single sided and most probably of Napoleon, depicted in typical dress with arms crossed over his chest. The lower half of the toy is missing. The stomach is rounded and the legs are defined by a groove at the front of the object. The hair and facial features on the figure are worn.
The rear of the object narrows at the waist however there is no detailed definition or decoration. The legs terminate with rounded breaks which are worn. The facial features have worn away but the suggestion of eyes and a mouth are visible. The rear of the object is smooth with a horizontal bar possibly representing a belt around his middle.
The figurine dates to the post-medieval era when toy soldiers like this were made for children although they were often restricted to use by the wealthy (Bailey 2002 page 62). French company Lucotte produced a large range of toy soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars, although this example may have derived from either France or Germany as these were the main exporters of lead toys to Britain during the 19th century (ibid. page 63). This example would have been made prior to 1893 as this is when toys were manufactured by hollow cast method (ibid.).
Bailey, G., 2002 Detector Finds 5 Great Britain : Greenlight Publishing, 62-63 ,
Other figurines of similar type which have been recorded are LVPL-21B257, LVPL-6623EA, LVPL-E4CDFE, LVPL-EF3A18, LANCUM-DC5C18 and YORYM-072BC2.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1700
Date to: Circa AD 1850
Quantity: 1
Length: 29 mm
Width: 11 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 10.86 g
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st June 2013
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Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Uncertain
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.