Imperial Guard Horse Grenadiers of the First Empire: Soldiers from Strasbourg. Cardboard figurine painted in gouache by the Wurtz family, second half of the 19th century, circa 1815-1848. 31156-11.

GRENADIERS À CHEVAL DE LA GARDE IMPÉRIALE FIRST EMPIRE: STRASBOURG SOLDIERS GOUACHÉ CARDBOARD FIGURINE by the WURTZ family, second half of the 19th century, circa 1815-1848. 31156-11

Four riders, H from the bottom of the base to eye level 10.5 cm.
Mounted on a wooden base.

France.
First half of the 19th century.
Good condition.

PROVENANCE:
Former Wurtz-Peés collection, then Saint-Aubin, and private collection.
Monsieur Marcel Saint-Aubin, a collector turned antiquarian between the wars. To my knowledge, no biography or article has ever been published on this figure, who is nevertheless known to collectors and frequently referenced in the provenance of historical objects of high quality. Therefore, I will open my archives to shed more light on this esteemed expert:
"Mobilized during the First World War, along with his infantryman brother, who was killed in Verdun. Both shared a passion for military memorabilia; they both drew and published their sketches in the magazine 'La Giberne' before 1914.
After the war, he established himself as an antiquarian. In 1926, he lived at 108 rue de Ménilmontant (Paris 20ᵉ), far from the usual antique dealer districts. His preference was the military curiosity he had long been drawn to. His interest in this specialty was sparked by his first significant find: a light cavalry officer's sabre from the Consulate period, which he called his 'lucky charm' and always treasured.
The antiquarian trade allowed Saint-Aubin to handle and possess these cherished objects for a time. A discerning expert, he never made mistakes, and his customers benefited from his knowledge. A passionate researcher, everything he discovered in his life was remarkably diverse. Silent and modest, he had a distinctive manner that left an enduring memory with collectors who knew him.
Like most military item dealers of his time, Marcel Saint-Aubin had no shop. He would receive clients in his apartment, where few items were displayed temporarily. Generally, like Paul Jean, he would fetch items he intended to sell from a neighboring room and present them without saying much, often with a faint smile. If the item presented was truly exceptional, he would simply say, without raising his voice, 'It's top-notch…'
In June 1940, during the occupation, he relocated to Guingamp. He returned to Paris, resettling late 1951 in the house he had purchased at 16 rue Henri Pape in the 13th arrondissement, once again far from the antique dealer districts.
His love for the objects he parted with extended to the care he took in their packaging. Skillful with his hands, he protected even the most modest piece impeccably.
Marcel Saint-Aubin passed away at the age of 83, taking with him the respect of all who knew him, leaving behind the memory of a man of great moral values."

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The Strasbourg soldiers are cardboard figurines, known as "flat" soldiers, cut from rigid cardboard. In most cases, these soldiers are drawn and then printed in sheets to facilitate mass production.
According to Christian Blondieau in his book "Petits soldats de plomb, d'étain, de papier, de carton ... 1765-1965 - Le guide du collectionneur" Editions Le Képi Rouge Paris 1996, regarding cardboard soldiers:
"[...] contrary to paper soldiers intended more for children, often colored in a clumsy manner, cardboard soldiers are made for adults, guaranteeing a high level of uniform accuracy, serving as the basis for our modern documentation...
Why are the little soldiers from Alsace referenced? Because they were mostly made by eyewitnesses of the time or their descendants and are often contemporary to the era they represent.
During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the residents of Strasbourg (a garrison town) witnessed a great number of troops with colorful uniforms marching through their streets en route to battles in Germany.
This influx of troops, lasting over fifteen years, inspired some to capture these fine soldiers in a fleeting manner.
Alsatian authors generally cite Benjamin Zix (1772-1811) as the pioneer of the genre. Leading ahead of Léopold Beyer, the German Geisler, or the Austrian Klein, the Alsatian Zix provides a very realistic portrayal of the soldiers of the time, as he himself was a combatant, often traversing battlefields armed more with a pencil than a rifle. He became an Army Officer illustrator.
From the peace of 1815 to the war of 1914, Strasbourg artists continued this tradition of drawing and painting from generation to generation [...]."
During the First Empire, Strasbourg had about 30,000 inhabitants, with a permanent garrison of 6,000 to 10,000 soldiers. The city also served as a thoroughfare for countless troops of the Revolution and the Grande Armée heading to campaigns across the Rhine.

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