Everything that identifies this figure is the bird. Poland's arms — gules, an eagle crowned, beaked and armed or, which is to say a silver eagle with gold crown, beak and talons on a red field — are among the oldest national emblems anywhere still in service. The eagle first appears on coins struck in the reign of Bolesław I, between 992 and 1025, as the badge of the ruling Piast dynasty; from the twelfth century it spreads across Piast seals and insignia until the mark of the family and the mark of the kingdom are the same thing. It has since outlasted partition, occupation, and the disappearance of the Polish state from the map altogether. Only once was it successfully edited: after the Second World War the communist government took the crown off the eagle's head, and there it stayed until 31 December 1989, the redesigned and re-crowned bird passing into law on 22 February 1990.

Tradition of London put that eagle on him three times over — on the red surcoat, on the shield, and standing crowned and wings spread on top of the great helm, which is itself circled with a crown. Underneath he is in full plate with mail showing at the throat, sword raised, the whole thing in bright gloss enamel against the red. He pairs naturally with The King of Poland (Mounted), the same monarch on horseback, and sits well beside the other crowned and armoured figures in the range — Joan of Arc, near enough his own century, and Thomas Strickland, another figure whose entire identity is painted on his coat. A shelf of these reads as a heraldic display as much as a military one — which is exactly how medieval people were meant to read them.

Model: k29 / Tradition of London / 54mm (1/32) scale / 1 piece set

All hand painted Toy Soldier sets packed in the Classic Tradition Red Boxes. All Toy Soldiers cast in quality white metal, and individually hand painted in gloss enamels.

Please allow 2-3 weeks delivery.