Toy Soldier Collector Magazine

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Bella La Bottega Del Soldatino!

Martin Ainscough looks at the figures by an Italian Manufacturer that has been involved in the toy soldier business for nearly a century

For generations the family name of Antonini has been associated in Italy, and worldwide, with the production and restoration of collectible toy soldiers.

In the shop, located in a suburb of Rome, you will find new modern day toy soldiers for the collector, old military figures, boxes of old toy soldiers, hats, helmets, uniforms and other interesting items of militaria. In fact it is a veritably Aladdin’s cave of delights for anybody with an interest in the military, or the collecting of toy soldiers old and new!

However, this idyllic scene of a bygone age could be under threat and could even disappear. This situation is due in part to the development of the commercial toy industry which has seen a vast increase in recent years in the appeal of electronic based games with a move away from more traditional hobbies. The outcome of this change is that the collecting of toy soldiers has now become the passion of a small but loyal number of collectors thus jeopardising the ongoing future of many small business such as that of the Antonini’s.

The Antonini name has long been associated with the making of toy soldiers and military models and is one of the oldest in Italy, if not Europe, that is still actively involved in the manufacturer of toy soldiers today. The company was started in 1910 by Francesco Antonini who initially imported a series of moulds made by Gerbruder Schneider from Leipzig. The moulds which have survived intact to this day, preserved in the family workshop, were made out of aluminium. The use of aluminium for toy soldier manufacturing was very unusual during this period but it allowed the company to produce an extensive range of figures for the toy market of the time. An assortment of different themes and ranges were produced that included lead soldiers of Prussians, Lancers, Hussars and British Infantry. Civilian themes such as Farm Animals together with Native American Indians hunting Buffalo, Cowboys and Bedouins of the Desert were also added over time. Small sailing boats and even a crib complete with angels and a comet found their way into the company’s range as it continued to grow and develop.

Satisfied with the results that had been achieved, and that there was a demand for his figures, Francesco decided to begin producing his own moulds, and in turn figures. In 1912 he began to produce a series that would be marketed under the brand name of LPG. The logo used for this new range didn’t appear on the figure bases but was solely used on the box labels, however the soldiers would soon become recognisable and could be easily identified by the distinctive oval base that the company still uses today.

Francesco’s moulds were made of bronze, and each consisted of several parts which allowed him to create figures that were fully round as opposed to the semi-round figures he produced when using the Schneider moulds. The first set of toy soldiers produced using the Antonini moulds depicted various troops of the Ottoman Empire, from the war between Italy and Turkey. This first set was well received and proved to be very popular with children of the time. The initial success of the first range was quickly followed by many others that were authentic copies of the various armies of the day with uniforms being faithfully recreated. In addition to Italian regiments the company also started to produce a number of foreign soldiers to add to its rapidly growing repertoire. Very soon, Scottish, Napoleonic and the armies of the 18th Century would join the ranks!

The figures being produced during this period had a somewhat rounded appearance and were painted with the preferred finish of the time, gloss enamels. These figures were toys which were aimed at children, but like many other makers from the time (W. Britain, Heyde, Mignot etc.) they are now very much sought after by collectors the world over.

In 1927 there was a growing demand for a product that was ‘unbreakable’, from this Antonini went on to develop and patent a new production process that involved the use of a special wood pulp. This material was very hard and therefore much more durable than the widely used lead. The new toy soldiers produced using this material were larger than their lead predecessors, and each was born from a cold bronze mould which was pressed by hand. The range initially concentrated on traditional Italian military subjects, but in time it expanded to include colonial troops, the Swiss and Papal Guard, and examples of the bands of the Carabinieri both on foot and horseback. A particular favourite with customers, I am told was, a beautiful series of zoo animals. The figures were sold under the “FIGIR” (Fabbrica Italiana Toys Unbreakable Roma) brand and in keeping with the early figures featured the characteristic oval bases but this time the underside of each base was stamped with the FIGIR logo.

In 1950 the company reintroduced the production of metal figures using the original moulds to meet the increasing demand, not from the toy market but this time from the growing hordes of model train enthusiasts. These figures were painted, but finished with more detail as they were for a collectors’ market as opposed to the sometimes short existence that one could expect with a simple toy. By 1968 the production of the FIGIR toy soldier range in pulp had stopped, due in no small part to the emergence on the world market of the more practical material, plastic. This ‘new age’ material became an overnight success with manufacturers who openly embraced and exploited its properties during the years ahead.

However, the Antonini family continued with its production of metal figures for the collector market during this time whilst also researching new methods for figure production. Most of the research work was carried out by Francesco’s son, Luciano, who since he was a boy had helped his father with the business. The introduction of a new series of figures in the standard scale of 54mm, produced using modern machinery and vulcanised rubber moulds, helped the company to move away from, and replace, the original toy like figures. This was particularly true of the mounted figures as the new tooling allowed horses with a more realistic appearance, and in numerous different positions, to be produced to replace their toy like stylised trotting predecessors. This new series began with the release of a mounted figure of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and subjects from the Kingdom of Sardinia from the 1700s. Other figures were added to the range over time and included the Emperor of Austria and the Papal States before the family returned once again to the subject of the 1700s with the Kingdom of Naples. Around this time a Dr Augusto Pranzetti was commissioned to sculpt a number of special figures, these new pieces were not part of the normal production ranges and included even more unusual subject matter such as the Military Police of Pastrengo!

Towards the end of 1970 Luciano started to produce, in collaboration with a Mr G. Del Vecchio, groups of figures which were made available as castings, something the Antonini family had never previously done. These figures, cast in several pieces, allowed for greater realism and detail to be added and were designed to appeal to those collectors who preferred to construct and paint their own figures, a trend that was gaining in popularity with a number of foreign collectors around this time.

The Antonini toy soldier business is now in the very capable hands of Lorenzo who continues the traditions established by his grandfather and father, while ensuring La Bottega del Soldatino stays at the cutting edge of the toy soldier hobby. A visit to Lorenzo’s shop in the suburbs of Rome is highly recommended, if you ever find yourself in this ancient European city that is.

Date Published Mon, 06/08/2009 - 09:49
Author: Martin Ainscough

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