Toy Mounted Knight

Description This bronze toy mounted knight is one of the earliest known toy soldiers. He holds a wooden jousting lance (modern restoration) in his right hand. Many such toys were undoubtedly made; they were easy to produce, not requiring precision in their modeling to make them effective. Most were lost or broken through long use. The workmanship is crude, but for a little boy with his head full of dreams of becoming a knight, it is enough.

Exhibitions

• Shrunken Treasures: Miniaturization in Books and Art. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2009.
• Checkmate! Medieval People at Play. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2010.

Provenance John Hunt, Dublin; Walters Art Museum, 1969, by purchase.

Credit Museum purchase with funds provided by the S. & A. P. Fund, 1969