Bologna
The Historical Museum of Toy Soldiers, founded in 1973 by Mario Massaccesi, is hosted in the Aldrovandi Mazzacorati Villa. Its collection lists about 15.000 pieces, which cover the entire time span of this kind of production (from the beginning of the 19th century onwards). The materials to make the toy soldiers are extremely varied - paper, lead, tin, plaster, wood paste, plastic and so on - as are the origins and type of production (unique pieces and in series). Among the curiosities to cite are: miniature painted cardboard soldiers that once belonged to the poet Giacomo Leopardi, the flat tin "Nuremberg" soldiers, hand-painted models in paste, chalk, plastic and hard rubber and lead soldiers dating from the middle of the 19th century up to the first years of the 20th century. Furthermore, there are thematic collections (Carabinieri, The Foreign Legion) and historical reconstructions. Among the rare items to highlight are: paper soldiers of the Pontifical Army (1820), Hillpert of Nuremberg (beginning of the 19th century), Pellerin d'Epinal (1870), Adam Schweitzer (1820), Lucotte (1900), G. Schneider (1903), Furth (1880-1910); moreover, moulds, war-game gear, dioramas, war machines of the years 1910-1940 made of tin are also exposed.
Map
Museo Nazionale del Soldatino "Mario Massaccesi"
c/o Villa Aldrovandi Mazzacorati, Via Toscana 19, 40138
Telephone: +39 348 4718138
Site/minisite/other: http://museodelsoldatino.wordpress.com/
Entrance
free
Interests
- Art & Culture
Details
Services
bookshop, guided visits upon booking
Timetables
Wed 3.30-5.30pm
Fri 3.30-5.30pm
Visits by appointments can be arranged for groups of max 10 people at other times.
We always suggest calling for confirmation tel. +39 348 4949485 / 348 4718138.
