Automaton in the Shape of a Galley ⛵️⛵️⛵️

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Austria) This remarkable automaton, shaped like a war galley, is both a technical marvel and a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Hidden within its intricately carved hull lies a mechanical engine that once powered the ship to roll across banquet tables while chained convicts rhythmically rowed—bringing the scene to life with mesmerizing precision. Every detail of the galley and its crew was painstakingly crafted using ivory, brass, iron, linen, and silk. The automaton is the collaborative work of two master ivory turners and a skilled clockmaker from Stuttgart: Georg Burrer, Georg Ernst, and Christoph Schorkfel. Their names, preserved on a contemporary parchment note hidden within the ship, bear witness to the legacy of early 17th-century mechanical ingenuity and decorative art. 📏 Dimensions: 51.5 cm × 84 cm × 33.5 cm 🛠 Materials: Ivory, brass, linen, silk, iron 📅 Created: Circa early 1600s, Stuttgart

Elastolin Composition Figure of Hermann Göring 🌬️🌬️🌬️💨💨💨🛩️🛩️🛩️

This historically significant composition figure represents Hermann Göring (1893–1946), a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, known as a military leader, aviator, and high-ranking Nazi official. While his legacy is one of criminality and infamy, his representation in toy soldier form reflects the historical production trends of 1930s Germany. 

The figure was manufactured by Elastolin and featured in their 1939/40 catalog under number 26/21. It is notable for its porcelain head and movable arm, exemplifying Elastolin’s brief production period of high-detail personality figures. Elastolin began incorporating porcelain heads into its composition figures in 1936, aiming to achieve more lifelike and expressive facial features. These porcelain heads were produced separately by the renowned German porcelain maker Hertwig & Co. (Hertwig Katzhütte) of Thuringia, known for their craftsmanship and fine detail.

Amazing Hausser/Elastolin posters

Hausser/Elastolin also gained fame for its visually striking and artistic posters...

Normandy Bunker 🏰🏰🏰

This wooden bunker has been attributed to Lehmann LGB of Nuremberg. While the craftsmanship is impressive, I remain somewhat skeptical about its actual Lehmann origin. I've included several photos of the bunker alongside Lineol and Elastolin composition soldiers for scale and context. The tinplate VW-82 Kübelwagen featured in the scene was manufactured by Gonio (Czech Republic) in the 1990s.

Vienna Panzerhalle 🇦🇹🇦🇹🇦🇹

The historic building of Object 13 in the Vienna Arsenal (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) was built in 1936 as a garage for military vehicles. Since 2017, it has served as a display of the history of armoured troops - Panzerhalle (Tank hall), containing more than 30 armoured vehicles, allowing visitors to follow the development of armoured combat and fighting vehicles.

80 years ago – End of the Second World War in Europe (1945 - 2025) 🚩🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷

The night of May 8–9, 1945 marks the end of the Second World War in Europe, when Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied powers— the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain, and France. This event is commemorated as the Day of Liberation, also known as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) or Victory Day. The video was created with Hailuo AI and plastic soldiers from different makers. 

 

Finn the Druid ☘️☘️☘️🧙‍♂️🧚✨

The sculpture of the mythical druid, Finn, is 5.6m high and weighs approx. 1 ton. First it was laboriously formed by hand in clay. Then it was copied into plaster and its detail upgraded. Thereafter it was copied into fibre. Finn self-defines as druid by carrying a few props suggesting his trade albeit of the contemplative twig. In his left hand he carries the Druid's Egg, the power symbol of the druid. It consists of a bundle of snakes. He also wears a bunch of mistletoe, a golden sickle, and a water gourd. The Druid sculpture is on view at the Victor’s Way in Roundwood, Co Wicklow (Ireland).