Del Prado Prussian Guard Uhlan, 1810: A Lance in an Army Being Rebuilt

Del Prado · Prussia · 1810

A long lance and dark mounted uniform give this Prussian officer a strong vertical outline. The reference photograph shows the figure in its blister, which also makes packaging part of the identification record.

The lance rises above both horse and rider, making it the first feature to match. Red details stand out against the darker clothing, while the raised front of the horse gives the small group forward energy. Reflections in the plastic limit what can be said about the finer paintwork. A packaged reference is useful for identification, but it is not a substitute for clear photographs of the actual example being offered.

Between defeat and recovery

The date 1810 places the officer after Prussia’s defeat by Napoleon in 1806 and before the campaigns of liberation in 1813. Military reform was under way, associated with figures such as Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Rebuilding the army involved leadership, recruitment and organisation, not simply replacing an old style of headgear with a new one.

A guardsman can therefore introduce a larger subject: how a defeated state tried to preserve an army while changing the institutions behind it. The miniature’s formal appearance belongs beside that story. It should not be taken as evidence that reform happened instantly or that every Prussian unit was equipped alike.

Checking a boxed example

Look along the entire lance, including the tip and the point where the hand supports it. A bend can be difficult to see through curved plastic. The horse’s legs, headgear and any loose piece in the tray deserve equally close attention. Packaging wear and damage to the figure should be assessed separately.

For display, compare this officer with the catalog’s Prussian dragoon dated 1806. The dates provide a useful before-and-after conversation, while the different cavalry types keep the comparison honest. A small printed caption will explain more than colour alone can convey.

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