War through the eyes of the toy soldier: a material study of the legacy and impact of conflict 1880 - 1945

Loarridge, E. (2021) War through the eyes of the toy soldier: a material study of the legacy and impact of conflict 1880 - 1945. Critical Military Studies, 7(4), pp. 367-383. (doi: 10.1080/23337486.2019.1659626)

Abstract

Cast-lead toy soldiers enjoyed widespread popularity in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As such they present an excellent case study for an analysis of war through non-military narratives. This article examines a sample of sets and figures produced during the ‘golden age’ of toy soldiers, so as to ascertain how these artefacts related to military developments and what light they can shed on societal responses to conflict in this period. The figures and sets under discussion are drawn from the catalogues of the major British and German manufacturers of the period and are contextualized by the activities of the companies that produced them. This focus enables the article to compare and contrast various approaches to these artefacts and to conclude on how toy soldier production in this period became embroiled in the wider political and military conflict between the British and German empires.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Loarridge, Mr Euan
• Authors: Loarridge, E.
• College/School: University Services > Library and Collection Services > Library
• Journal Name: Critical Military Studies
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 2333-7486
• ISSN (Online): 2333-7494
• Published Online: 27 August 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Critical Military Studies 7(4): 367-383
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher