Prussian Seven Years’ War Soldier Set – Hand-Painted Miniatures by Scholtz and Spiro

This finely assembled group of hand-painted lead soldiers vividly depicts Prussian infantry and officers of the mid-18th century, the era of Frederick the Great and the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). Each figure is crafted in traditional flat and semi-flat style and is stamped with the names of classic German toy soldier makers—Scholtz and Spiro—both highly respected among collectors for their detailed historic representations.

The set includes a mix of marching grenadiers, officers with swords, a fallen casualty figure, and a mounted officer triumphantly raising his hat. Their uniforms are meticulously painted in the classic Prussian palette of dark blue coats with red facings, yellow breeches, and tall mitre caps for grenadiers. Officers are shown in tricorn hats with drawn swords, leading the advance.

Historical Context:
These figures represent Frederick the Great’s disciplined infantry, famed throughout Europe for their rigid drill and battlefield effectiveness. The grenadiers in mitre caps evoke the elite battalions that served as shock troops during decisive battles such as Rossbach (1757) and Leuthen (1757). The inclusion of a mounted officer reflects Frederick himself or his senior commanders, who often led from horseback at the center of the line. Makers Scholtz and Spiro were both part of the great German tradition of toy soldier production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, carrying forward the fascination with Prussia’s military heritage.

Physical Description:

• Total of 12 figures: marching grenadiers, officers, mounted commander, and one casualty figure.

• Composition: Painted lead with original period paint, showing excellent detail.

• Bases clearly stamped “Scholtz” and “Spiro” on individual pieces.

• Condition: Overall good to very good with age-expected paint wear; some delicate repairs may be noted but all figures retain strong visual appeal.

Collector Appeal:
This set captures not only the martial image of Frederick’s Prussia but also the artistry of traditional German toy soldier making. It is suitable both as a display of Seven Years’ War military history and as an example of early collectible soldier craftsmanship. Sets of this quality and completeness are increasingly scarce, particularly when retaining mounted command figures and casualty poses.