THE IMPERIAL COLLECTION is proud to present 1 of 9 museum quality soldiers in ½ scale. Each is cased in a walnut case with glass sides and mirrored back to show off all sides. This is Soldier No. 1 – a U.S. Cavalry Officer in total uniform with sidearm and sword.
The mannequin and soldier were commissioned from Greg Mowry of Geppeto Productions of California. His impeccable work is of the highest standard, and with his experience, it is no wonder. After studying theatre arts specializing in costume design at Rutgers University, Mowry began designing costumes for many Broadway shows in the 1980s, including “Phantom of the Opera” and “Starlight Express” After Broadway, Mowry moved to L.A. to design for film. After working on the TV show “Designing Women”, he moved to designing costumes for films such as “Waterworld”, “Starship Troopers”, and “The Postman”, as well as making clothes personally for Paula Abdul and Raquel Welch. In 2000, Mowry left L.A. to become an independent artist, and it was then that Geppetto Productions was born. Since 2004, Mowry is an independent artist with Sideshow Collectables working as a senior designer and fabricator of ¼ scale statues.
Everything about this soldier is handmade to scale. The sword is from Imperial Miniature Armory as is the holster. The leather holster is stamped U.S. and has an ammunition pouch on the belt in the back. The uniform is exact, down to the boots and spurs. The detailing is impeccable. Leather gloves, hat, button suspenders, yellow bandana and gold epaulets set off the blue uniform. All are handmade to scale and make him seem to be ready to ride away on a mission. Case measurement: 37.5” long, 19” wide, and 10” thick. $5000.00
The sidearm is a ½ scale Colt Single Action Army by Uberti of Italy. It is fully functional, non-firing and has walnut grips. It is sold separately. $500.00
About the IMPERIAL COLLECTION:
Joel Morrow, my father, has spent decades collecting some of the most fascinating items from around the world and only now are some of them available for purchase. Having traveled to all corners of the globe, he has amassed an incredible collection of miniature firearms/guns, art, rugs, cannons, knives, artifacts and other highly collectable items that are truly amazing to see in one place. He literally wrote the book on miniature guns and firearms - publishing a hardback book to document all the facets of fine miniature guns, miniature firearms and other miniature paraphernalia such as knives, cannons, spears and Gatlin guns. He is one of the most respected names in the field of arms - having spent considerable time and money advancing the Texas Gun Collectors Association, Safari Club North America, National Firearms Museum and Miniature Arms Society organizations. He is an avid world traveller, adventurer, hunter, collector, art enthusiast and LIFE enthusiast.
Now, a portion of his collection is for sale for the first time. Many items will never be seen by the public and are only going to be offered in a private sale setting. If there is something that you are curious about - we probably have it and its probably rare and the best that there is. That is my fathers way. Feel free to scroll through the pages of this site to find some incredible things - many of which will never be replicated. Please call with any questions or email if more convenient.
Michael Morrow
713-444-6250
A Summary of Miniature Firearms/Guns:
Miniature arms/guns are defined in a variety of ways, but in the most pragmatic terms they are reduced versions of full-sized arms, replicated in every detail. Miniature arms should not be confused with the respected craft of the military miniaturist, who paints miniature figures that have been case in metal or plastic, and are collected individually or to create dioramas. While miniature arms are also scale models, they do not differ in function, design, or components from the full-sized arms they replicate.
Historically, the production of actual arms in miniature dates back to the sixteenth century. Weapons were replicated in absolute accuracy to serve two functions. In the early days of the European medieval guild system, a journeyman gunsmith, cutler or armorer was required to fabricate in exact miniature a fully workable gun, sword, or suit of armor, in order to attain the rank of ‘master’ in his trade. Such undertakings demanded both the artisan’s skills and knowledge of arms-making, as well as imaginative innovation, as the journeyman had to contrive methods for developing small components. Due to the rigor and discipline inherent in such work, many miniatures were neither completed nor approved, and only a limited number of journeymen became masters of their trade.
Once they gained recognition, masters were rarely idle, for the second important function of miniatures was for marketing the full-sized weapons. The logistics of traveling with full scale arms was clearly impossible, and miniatures enabled merchants to market their masters wares over long distances. Allowing potential customers to see for themselves the actual range and quality of a masters craft, miniature arms samples increased the number of sales, particularly if an arms merchant parted with one or tow of the prized models as incentive for a large order.
Four centuries later, we are still enchanted by the irresistible appeal of anything miniature. The scarcity of real miniature arms only increases their desirability as collectible items.
SCALES FOR MINIATURE ARMS/GUNS:
Firearms as miniature arms may be as large as ¾ scale, but the most popular sizes among collectors are ½ and 1/3 scale pieces. Representations of virtually every ignition system every used, including matchlock, wheel-lock, flintlock, percussion, and cartridge systems, appear in miniature firearms. Although commercial ammunition may be used in some larger-scale pieces, cartridges for miniatures as small as 1/3 or ¼ scale must be produced by the miniature arms maker.
The size of hand weapons as miniature arms generally follows the same scale values of firearms, although hand weapons are usually less complex. Some of the more simple hand weapons, such as daggers and knives, may be reproduced in scales less than 1/8; however, ornate scrollwork and engraving exactly replicated in swords and maces impose the same type of scale restrictions as do the complex internal systems of firearms.
Cannon as miniature arms are sometimes large as ¼ scale, so that a barrel with a 5 inch bore mounted on a carriage with wheels 4 feet in diameter would appear in miniature as a barrel bored to 1-¼ inches on a carriage with wheels 1 foot in diameter.
Miniature suits of armor must be fully articulating and detailed with real rivets and seams, just as they were during the days of Ivanhoe and Camelot. This detailing means that miniature suits of armor very from 1/3 to 1/8 scale. According to these scales, a miniature armored suit for a six foot man would be either two feet or nine inches long, easy enough to transport even by a sixteenth- century arms merchant.
MAKING MINIATURE ARMS/GUNS:
The current rate of production or manufacture of miniature arms has hardly changed since the sixteenth century. Just as medieval arms masters were few and far between, there are relatively few people engaged in this craft today. There are perhaps only several hundred craftpersons who make miniature arms for their own collections or to sell.
Unlike full-sized arms, the production of miniature arms rarely takes place in a factor environment. One rare exception to this is an Italian manufacturer who produces a series of ½ scale percussion an cartridge revolvers under a special licensing agreement with Colt firearms. Although considered a factory production miniatures, these guns are mostly hand-fitted and assembled with expert craftsmanship and fine attention to precision and detail. In most cases in involving the commercial production of name brand miniature arms such as hand guns, an individual craftsperson is contracted to make a very limited number, usually only four or five pieces.
COLLECTING MINIATURE ARMS/GUNS:
Collecting miniatures is a fascinating hobby, both in terms of the beauty and craftsmanship of the objects, and because of the challenge of the chase. Given their limited variety and availability, the hunt for miniatures can become quite an obsession. A few hobbyists can boast collections that reach into the hundreds, but the average collector might have just fifteen pieces. The unique nature of each miniature arm forestalls the usual pricing scales of other kinds of collections, such as weapons, coins, or antiques. Like painting or sculpture, most miniature arms are valued on an individual basis. Some collectors enjoy the beauty of their miniature arms while at the same time secure in the knowledge that their collection is constantly increasing in value.
Perhaps the most expensive miniature arm in existence is a 1/3 scale miniature of elaborate Flintstock pistol commissioned by Napoleon for this brother, King Joseph of
Advances in technology since the sixteenth century have make available a host of helpful aids to the modern miniature maker. Consequently, the fabrication of miniature arms in the future will continue with more and more pieces for the collector.
****WE OFFER QUANITY DISCOUNTS ON MUILTIPLE ITEM PUCHASES****