BOSSONS  COLLECTIONS

 

 

CHARLES DICKENS SERIES COMPOSITES

 

THE DICKENS SERIES 

 

Bill Sikes (1964)                      From "Oliver Twist"

 

Tony Weller (1964)                  From "Pickwick Papers"

 

Mr Samuel Pickwick (1964)      From "Pickwick Papers"

 

Mr Wilkins Micawber (1964)     From "David Copperfield"

 

Uriah Heep (1964)                    From "David Copperfield"  

(There is a rarer Grey haired version).

 

Fagin (1964)                             From Oliver Twist"

 

Betsey Trotwood (1964)           From "David Copperfield" 

(There is  newer version has a  pink blouse marked 1964,  and original version has a blue blouse). 

 

Sarah Gamp

 

Mr Bumble (1969)

 

Scrooge (1981)

 

 

In 1964 there were 8no Charles Dickens Character Wall Masks produced. Later additions were Mr Bumble and eventually Scrooge.

 

All of the Dickens Collection pieces are readily available to the Collector with Scrooge probably being slightly rarer than the other models.

 

 

A few examples of the Dickens Characters (click to enlarge)

 

'THE NEW SHAKESPEAREAN COLLECTION'

Shakespearean Comedies Masks 

THERE ARE SIX DIFFERENT PIECES: SIR TOBY BELCH, KATHERINA, MALVOLIO, SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK, PORTIA AND FALSTAFF. 

THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HANG OR STAND. 

PRODUCED AS A LIMITED EDITION. ORIGINALLY PLANNED AS AN EDITION OF 9,500 BUT ACCORDING TO ARTICLE IN BOSSONS BRIEFS ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BOSSONS COLLECTORS SOCIETY DURING MARCH 1997, THERE WERE ONLY 800 SETS MADE.

   click to enlarge

 

MILITARY MASKS

(Introduced 1965, Discontinued 1966. Reintroduced 1968, Discontinued 1970).

There are a total of 18 Military Masks in a first and second edition series. All of the masks were sculpted by Fred Wright who carried out extensive studies at museums to ensure the masks were totally authentic 19th Century military headgear.

Sculpting started in 1963 on the first edition models with small eyes and they were initially released in 1965 for one year only (1965-66).  These first edition models are extremely rare.

In 1968 the Masks were re-introduced without eyes which became the 2nd edition models.  Ray Bossons wanted the military hats and costume to be the main feature so he told Fred Wright to remove the eyes replacing them with fine lines that simulate eyes. These models were released to 2 years only (1968-1970).

The Eighteen Military Mask

6no 1st Edition with small eyes with variations in colour of the collars.

6no 2nd Edition with no eyes (fine line for eyes).

3no re-modelled French masks by Ray Bossons with larger eyes, facial and hair changes.

3no revised French editions with wooden plaques released in 1990, discontinued in 1994.

 Mounted Military Masks

The first series was painted with 'small eyes open' and later 'without eyes', except the Sixth Dragoon which only had 'closed eyes'. Additionally there where different painting arrangements on the first series for the Collars and Tunics.

The later second series had 'eyes wide open' and gold bandings on the collars.

Further alterations were carried out to Grenadier and 2no of the French Military masks when they were re-issued between 1990 and 1994.

BRITISH MASKS

No1 - Third Light Dragoons (1852)

No2 - Ninth Lancer (1827)

No3 - Sixth Dragoon Guards (1847)

FRENCH MASKS

No4 - Grenadier a pied de la Garde Imperial (1805)

No5 - Trompette du Regiment des Chasseurs a Cheval (1818)

No6 - Officer de Chevauleger Francais de la Ligne (1812)