Tin Soldier in a Paper Boat

The soldier stands upright inside a large paper boat whose sharp folds divide the hull into simple triangles. He wears a tall shako hat with a round pompom and a plume, a chin strap, shoulder epaulettes and a jacket crossed by three rows of braided cords. One hand is raised in a friendly wave, while the other grips a long pole like a parade rifle. Gentle ripples surround the boat, a leaf floats in the lower left corner, a smooth stone rests on the right, and grassy banks with reeds and bushes frame the stream.

Toy Soldiers and Paper Boats Through History

Toy soldiers were first made in large numbers in 18th-century Germany, where Nuremberg workshops cast flat tin figures for children to line up in parades and pretend battles. In 1893 the London firm of William Britain began producing hollow-cast lead soldiers, which were lighter and cheaper, and painted soldier sets stayed favorite gifts for decades.

The paper boat is one of the best-known paper-folding models. It floats because its hollow shape pushes aside enough water to hold it up, but paper slowly soaks up moisture, so the boat eventually turns soft and sinks. Rubbing the hull with candle wax keeps it afloat much longer.