Just Bought! Lucky me! 90mm Chota sahibs!

[akaryu]

Once in a while one has a stroke of unexpected luck so to speak. While having a break on one of our several whale observing bouts in the Strait of Gibraltar, I rather idly searched Ebay for large scale Chota Sahib figures. To my surprise several were on sale from a UK seller, all original in their original boxes, yellowed silk paper included. I placed low bids and forgot about it, thinking I didn't stand a chance on these beauties. At the end of the sale I discovered to have won three of them at absolutely ridiculous prices, about 25€ each!!! Amongst them the 'boozy major' which in over 50 years of painting figures I have never seen 'in the flesh'! An absolute bargain! Either the world was asleep, or the younger amongst us don't care for these older, iconic figures. Unpacking them from their aged boxes they still shine as new and all I have to do is paint them, not necessarily while observing whales!
cheers,
Pierre

 

[DaddyO]

Congratulations Pierre
I saw the figures and love Sid Horton's stuff, but am on a strict diet of 54's so let them pass . . .

I'm sure you will make a cracking job of them and look forward to seeing pictures of the finished figures
Cheers
Paul

 

[Mirofsoft]

Mooie inkoop

Best

 

[akaryu]

These are the other two not so little Sahibs I got!


The only Indian Army one missing is the Sikh Officer 5th Punjab Cavalry, which I once saw at the Under Two Flags store in London, just as all my money was spent!
cheers,
Pierre

 

[fogie]

Green with envy ...... where's all this drool coming from ?

 

[oldtrousers]

Nice score! Those are wonderful figures.

Scott

 

[chippy]

Well done that man .
chippy

 

[Tom W.]

Good morning Pierre!There is an other 90 mm Chota Sahib figure.It´s the 10th year celebrity figure from Sid Horton.An officer from the 1 st Skinners Horse in his yellow Parade Dress.I bought it some time ago from a PF-member.And the only time I saw the boozy Major in colour is a photo in one of Shep Paine´s books.He stood on a fibre flocks tiger fur.

 

[akaryu]

Morning Tom!
The Skinner's Horse officer I have for years in my grey army, waiting to have the skill to paint it decently! I might as well have a go at it now. As for the boozy major, same for me, only knew it from the Sheperd Paine book until now. But now I have the proof it exists!!!
cheers,
Pierre

 

[Edward]

I was tempted by these on eBay but prefer small scales. I saved a photo of Bill Horan's version at the last Atlanta Show.

 

[OldTaff]

I remember Sid producing this figure at one of the BMSS meetings at Caxton Hall, way,way back. We all had a good laugh, as it resembled the then President of the society, Roy Dilley. I have to say,it was a lovely figure, and was taken in good part by Roy; in fact, I think Sid gave him one.
I have two of his 90's, which I don't think made it into production; Captains Nolan and Morris, Crimean figures. Sitting in my cabinet, fond memories of those great times.
Sid was always pulling out part-done masters from his pockets..." 'Ere, what do you think of this?" Great stuff....treasure those figures, Pierre.

Alan

 

[Mirofsoft]

Good morning Pierre!There is an other 90 mm Chota Sahib figure.It´s the 10th year celebrity figure from Sid Horton.An officer from the 1 st Skinners Horse in his yellow Parade Dress.I bought it some time ago from a PF-member.And the only time I saw the boozy Major in colour is a photo in one of Shep Paine´s books.He stood on a fibre flocks tiger fur.

No, it's a 100mm, I bought one on ebay last year for 19,28€ delivery costs included, but you're right, usually prices goes very high

 

[Mirofsoft]

These are the other two not so little Sahibs I got!


The only Indian Army one missing is the Sikh Officer 5th Punjab Cavalry, which I once saw at the Under Two Flags store in London, just as all my money was spent!
cheers,
Pierre

There is also a British Officer corp of Guide 1900 seated in chair
A british officer 1st duke of York mounted
A native Risaldar

see the Chotta specialist
http://www.lrmminiatures.com/chota-sahib-miniatures.html

 

[Mirofsoft]

My painted Chotta ( in the mid 70ies )

Still have this

and 2 54mm end 70ies

And 2 catalogues available in PDF here
http://www.lrmminiatures.com/vintage-collection.html

 

[akaryu]

There is also a British Officer corp of Guide 1900 seted in chair
A british officer 1st duke of York mounted
A native Risaldar

see the Chotta specialist
http://www.lrmminiatures.com/chota-sahib-miniatures.html

The native Risaldar is the Sikh Officer 5th Punjab Cavalry and is the only Indian army one I am missing.
Pierre

 

[OldTaff]

Brilliant! That seated officer drawing was Bryan Fosten's portrait of Sid Horton, and I do believe the figure WAS like that. So if you've got one, you've a fair idea how Sid looked. I'd love one myself........

Alan

 

[Tom W.]

Nice to see that some gentlemen are interested in the "Indian Army of Queen Victoria".My first Chota-Sahib-figure was a English Lancer officer from the 20th Deccan Horse in his dark green kurtka.Today there are some figures on the market like Art Gironas,Beneito (a Bengal Lancer officer with a balustrade with Sterling silver teacups and a pair of monkeys) and 120mm figures from the old Company The Roll Call.I have the Tradition of London magazines from the Swinging sixties with two Special numbers of the Indian Army with many colortables.Also the Almark book of the Indian cavalery regiments.The only pity there is,that the images of the figures are done for 20 mm wargamers.You can´t see the most colorful item,the pugri,in their correct colors.And one of my favourite dioramas in the last years is "The pologame,that never was" from Jesus Gamara.On his website are some nice WIP pictures.
If one of the PF-members has to sell the "Buzzy Major" or others from that series,please drop me a line.

 

[akaryu]

Seeing the interest in the late Sid Horton's work, here are some of the first 54mm Chota Sahib on the Indian Army of the Raj I painted/converted, all from 20-30 years ago.

Major, 7th Hariana Lancers in mess dress

A small conversion of a British officer to a Subedar, 24th Punjabis, ca 1908

On the same figure, a Major, 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry, ca 1900

Based on the Desert Rats tanker, a Lieutenant, 55th Coke's Rifles FF, Waziristan 1920

I'd love to see more figures on this very colorful period and of course more of Sid Horton's little gems on the workbench of present day Planeteers!!
Cheers,
Pierre

 

[MCPWilk]

I saw these on eBay but still have the 90mm Skinner's Horse to paint amongst my grey army. I do wish someone would re-issue the 54mm figures in 90 or 120mm, but I don't know whether there would be a market for them.

Mike

 

[akaryu]

. I do wish someone would re-issue the 54mm figures in 90 or 120mm, but I don't know whether there would be a market for them.

Mike

That would be lovely, but having no commercial knowledge or experience, I don't know either wether there is a market for it. Only thing I'm pretty sure of is the amazing potential for colorful uniforms of the Indian army of the Raj and it is an everlasting credit to Sid Horton to have tackled some of that. How nice it would be to just have a range of 75mm or larger scale figures or even busts in cavalry mess dress! But alas, what sells or not is beyond my understanding. That said, commercial viability might have something to do with the amount of available information and documentation. Just compare the vast amounts of books and plates on Napoleonics or German units in WW2,detailed down to the last button, with the few volumes on the British Indian army and the complexity of lungi and pugree patterns.
cheers,
Pierre