King & Country

Reviews of new metal figures to arrive in the hobby by George Philips.

- George Philips

The latest batch of releases from Andy Neilson and the team at King & Country (K&C) highlights the breadth and richness of the collectible figures and accessories on offer from this modern heavyweight of the industry.

The first items are additions to the colourful Ancient Egypt range launched by K&C some years ago. The New Kingdom Dance Troupe features a trio of nubile young female dancers who would have provided evening entertainment for Pharaoh and his inner circle. One of the dancers plays a lute-like stringed instrument, while the others sway rhythmically to the music. Realistic gradations of skin tones are always a challenge in figures of 1/30 scale or less, but the K&C artists have done a fabulous job with these figures, achieving a convincingly organic effect.

Providing the musical accompaniment for the new dancers are two Court Musicians. One is playing the lyre and the other an ancient reed flute. The sculpts are clearly by the same artist and are similarly well painted. If the dancers and musicians were warm-up acts for the night’s entertainment, then the headline act must have been The Snake Charmer. Snakes – and especially cobras – were revered and highly prized in ancient Egypt. Their images and representations can be found in surviving monuments and wall art the length and breadth of the country.

Court performers would include these beautiful but highly venomous creatures in their act. The constant presence of mortal danger for the artist was no doubt part of the appeal of the act. The K&C figure comes complete with a hissing cobra and a reed basket in which to store him between performances.