The recent thread on Pegasus latest Germanic Warrior inspired me to tell a short story about the invention of the fur claded, multi-sword-draped, fat, club armored Germanic warrior.

In 1876 Richard Wagner was to debut the now completed "Ring der Nibelungen" in the brand new opera house at Bayreuth. As costume designer the then famous artist Carl Emil Doepler was commissioned. He then invented the horn helmet, the winged helmet and the fur claded German. For weaponry he used several pledges from prehistory, mainly bronze age swords and early iron age swords, but no real germanic artefact. Remember, we write 1876 and nobody should blame him for that.

His designs survives up to today and could be found in the net:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54525871@N05/5051269524/in/set-72157624969947145/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54525871@N05/5050649963/in/set-72157624969947145/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54525871@N05/5051271260/in/set-72157624969947145/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54525871@N05/5051260146/in/set-72157624969947145/

These designs really where new, some attempts where made earlier to re-create the Germanics, mainly based on Tacitus' texts. But now these re-creations start to come to the public mind and the blueprint of the real germanic warrior was born. And the Viking, by the way.

Doepler's designs lastest long on the opera stage. Here is Karl Ress in Dresden, 1885, as Hundig, very similiar to Doepler's original design of 1876.



So, and now compare that to the latest Pegaso attempt....and you will see a perfect figure for a end-of-19th-century opera diorama.

I only hope that the figure designers will start to make the maestro and the orchestra also. Or stop making these figures and selling them as "Germanic warriors".



Hans

Thanks, Hans, for this interesting post. By the way, I have remember your letter into an old “Military Modelling” number about non-historical figures of the ancient Celts – with pig-tails, war axes, non-authentic armour, and so on.
Unfortunately, some sculptors and figure manufacturers are not thinking about historical accuracy of theirs figures…

Hi Gennady

Sorry, you do right there, you need only look at the new Pegaso yes, because everything here is again, not only historical.


Cheers

Hendryk

Bravo Sir! As more good sculptors emerge so do the number of unintentionally fantasty-like figures. This is not limited to ancient subjects but I think that era is more prone to abuse due to the amount of time passed and scarcity of artifacts. Historical accuracy is one thing that separates what we do from toys, and needs to be respected. Well done!

Good post. Does anyone have any references about what a real Germanic warrior might have looked like? I have no idea as I've never looked into it, but I'm very curious now!

Hello Steve

I do not mind that someone's imagination can run wild, but then do not enter any year values​​, or it Teuton, Celt, call or otherwise.
As for the artifacts, so the knowledge of this era is better and more accurate than some of the recent past.
Perhaps Hans reads these articles, he could contribute as much.

Cheers

Hendryk

James, I’m thinking that Hans will give an answer to you how the ancient Germans might have looked like, because he is an archaeologist and specialist in the theme. I’m not, unfortunately…
I would like myself to have such information on the Germanic war chief appearance on the Marcomanic Wars 166-180 AD period – there is an idea of mine to sculpt two horse figures as “members” of a mortal duel between Roman General Marcus Valerius Maximianus and Germanic the Varisci (or Naristi) Valao chieftain.

I would love to see more Celts, Germanic Warriors accurately sculpted.

Definitely here on the planet Figure we have some experts in the subject, but all I can hear is mostly complaining about the inaccuracies.
What about an idea to open a thread where you all can share your knowledge about it? I am pretty sure many of the sculptors will use it as a reference and maybe future projects would like much, much better when it comes to historic accuracy.
As we all know the barbarians are very difficult subject to research. That could be very helpful.

Just my two cents.

I think that's a great idea. I too would love to see some barbarian figures.

I know that one figure laying in my grey army is correct. "Correct" means depending on the knowledge of the scientific research today

It is a celt from the period 600 - 500 before christ (Hallstatt D-Period). Every thing is archaeologically detectable for that years. The only discussion is if the vertical line is only a line or would be better build as a wooden reinforcement on the shield.

Hans Trauner was one of the researcher for that figure.

Ulrich

What can to say about it… It’s a nice idea to continue the thread as reference resource on the Ancient & Medieval Barbarians. But I’m afraid that sculptors, which are working for other figure firms, nevertheless are will be to make theirs figures just only as they are “seeing” the subject
In turns - Yes, I would can posted on here some archaeological materials on the Barbarians, but the ones that are has been found on the Russian and Ukrainian territory only – mainly, on the Black Sea’s so-called the Goths Tetraxites (simply I live not far from this ancient Gothia, I like their culture, and I was on the archaeological excavations there in my youth), and the Goths of South Russia/Ukraine. There are some materials on the Alans of the Caucasus and South Russia too.
Best wishes to all.

Extremely well-sculpted figure. The painting is marvelous too, indeed. But what is especially nice matter that the one highly accurately done from archaeological/historical view point.
What is the figure manufacturer of it?

Do people also want to see correct anatomy for horses etc. I mean pony rather than modern horse? My experiance has been that people buy figures on horses not ponies, no matter how accurate!

Martin

I am glad very much about Hans's article!

For me is a figure not primarily, a "Painting Surface", but it should be- if it should be a historical figure - a very exact effigy of something that there has been really sometimes thus!

This assumes extensive search, an expenditure, the manufacturer for cost reasons mostly avoid.

Instead, it is worked stereotype by "Teutons" laden with fur , it is simplified, different epochs are "together-mixed", only to be able to present a "dramatic" figure which sells very well.

The manufacturers who work in such a way calculate cynically with our ignorance.

There I find it good, that somebody this annoying subject sometimes - and very humorously - has taken up.

Cheers

Hi Martin

100% agree, though historically, then please also correct.
Finally, manufacturers will indeed correct € uro and no play money of the children!

Cheers

Hendryk

Thanks Hendryk!

Cheers

@ Gennady. I have my figure from Shane Terry, the sculptor. And it was the last piece. Hans told me that the figure was for United Empire, but as he remember there were only some pieces sold

Ulrich

Good researched Germanics are somewhat rare on the market, IMHO. The best series should be found at Thorsberg Miniatures.
http://www.thorsberg-miniatures.de/en/index.html


I have to admit, that Germanics are not my speciality concerning exact archaelogical details. I am from southern germany and therefore the "germanic period" only starts not before the end of the roman era. My speciality are the celts. :awesome:

As vikings where mentioned Id like to put that even if there are a few figures made that are inspired by 19th century nationalromancing I would say that the main bulk isnt. And that the historians are well updated on new findings.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

Yes, Hans - I know it. By the way, at present I`m sculpting a 90 mm figure of Celt warrior of Middle La Tene period - on the Celtic invasion into Macedon,Greece and Thrace in 270-s years BC