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Civil War Figures

Old Toy Soldier Style

One of the artists who helped popularize military miniatures was Holger Eriksson, a Swedish sculptor.  Holger liked to carve his master figures in wood.  Though crude by today's standards, Eriksson's works showed superb proportion and action.  His figures were crude but his poses were animated. Holder influence was prolific.  He sculpted for a variety of companies: Comet, Authenticast, S.A.E., Prince August and his own company. 

Most of the Series I single cavity metal molds by Castings Inc. produce figures that were either sculpted by Holger, or were inspired by him. All four of the Civil War soldiers and most of the Revolutionary War figures resemble the Swede's earlier work.  They can rightly be called the "Toy Soldier Style." 

Here are the four Civil War figures from that series, painted in various uniform styles.  Though a few units had very distinctive uniforms, the cut of uniforms of that era were used by many units on both sides.  So it is that the same figure can represent various units of either Confederate or Union armies.

What I like about the Eriksson figures is their "character."  Crude as they are, they have that indefinable quality that makes them interesting.  I truly enjoy painting them.

Standing riflemen with bedroll, in both Union and Confederate colors.  Slouch hats were popular on both sides of the conflict.  These look to have been sculpted by Eriksson.

Two Confederates in mix of military and civilian clothing .  The third is in the "butternut" colored uniform.

A Confederate in grey uniform and two Union soldiers.

A Confederate and a Union militiaman in long coats with linen "havelock" over their caps.  Some units used red trousers early in the war.

One Union militiaman, a Confederate in butternut and a Confederate in gray.

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