Valencian Collection Hall
The next room pays tribute to the artists of historical miniatures from the Valencian Community and to Valencia’s toy-manufacturing industry.
First, we have the pieces by Ángel Comes Plasencia, who founded the Alymer brand in 1962; its catalogue was printed that same year (in five languages) and became a benchmark in Spain, Europe, and the Americas. The Alymer brand was the first to produce 20-mm figures, and through its brand, it became one of the largest manufacturers of lead soldiers in history.
Another artist featured here is Vicente Julià. Known as “Chauve”, he was a magnificent Valencian miniature artist, whose most notable works depict Spanish and Valencian history, culture, and art; just to mention “The Embrace of Vergara” (located in the Victoria Eugenia Hall), featuring 500 figures, or the “Valencian Corpus Christi Procession of 1800,” comprising 1,216 figures.
To conclude this magnificent trilogy of Valencian miniature artists, we highlight Vicente Mallol, creator and collector of lead soldiers. He was the creator of works illustrated by Labandera, such as the famous “cabezones”—caricatured figures of Juan Carlos I’s Royal Guard—using the so-called 30-mm flat figures. Starting in the 1970s, he produced his first three-dimensional figures—figures that took on a certain volume and were, for the most part, dedicated to King Alfonso XIII.
Finally, one of the display cases features balsa wood figures designed by José María Bueno and sculpted by Julio Cid. These pieces are unique, each carved individually from blocks of wood.
