The Lineol III African elephant (500G): a walkaround by Kikimalou

Today we're talking about Brandenburg and African elephants.

The African elephant is, of course, one of the big five in the world of animal toys. Few manufacturers have not produced at least one representative of these giants, and those that haven't have usually come up with a hybrid that we don't know whether it comes from Asia or Africa.

For Lineol, things are clear: it has produced three African elephants, two adults and one youngster.
Lineol is one of the two great German brands to light up the 20th century, the other being Hausser Elastolin.

Lineol was founded in 1905 by Oskar Wiederholz and produced composition figures until 1965. The company was nationalized in East Germany in 1949 as VEB-Lineol-Plastik.

What about the species ? The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is one of two extant African elephant species and the largest living terrestrial animal. It occurs in sub-Saharan Africa.

What about Brandenburg ? Albert Caasmann a German sculptor who was the leading designer and production manager of Lineol from 1919 to 1952. Inspired by his many visits to the Berlin Zoo, he produced four series of highly realistic wild animals.
He died in Brandenburg in 1968, and the city named a Caasmann street (Caasmannstraße) in his honour.

The elephant I'm about to present dates from Series III and bears the gentle name of 500G, a mythical piece for collectors of Lineol and animal toys in composition. It was produced from 1931 to 1940.
It charges and trumpets like furious, which is not an uncommon pose for elephant toys.

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He's not short on personality
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This elephant had a successor in the Series IV, which reigned from 1940 to 1960.
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With a few "successors" from the second half of the 20th century, Britains Ltd and Timpo
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With another 21st century "successor", Papo
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In fact, the elephant is rightly one of the big five of the animal world.
In real nature as well as in the world of toy animals - but this model here, the Lineol III. African elephant  
by Albert Caasmann, is one of the top 5 in the premier class among collectors of composition animal figures.
For many Lineol collectors, this is the "holy grail" for the own collection. I personally find it even more beautiful than
the famous running large Indian elephant from Series I. (No. 400/501 from 1906-1920).
What would Oskar Wiederholz and his Lineol company be without the talented artist Albert Caasmann, who was responsible for so many 100 models?
Beautiful photos Christophe, that show all the beauty of this extraordinary model.

If you talk about Brandenburg, dont forget Dresden. Lineol was from 1957 until the end (1963) here together with A.Caasmann. He lives in Dresden a few years, Mr. Peipp (Peipp miniatures) knows him.

This magnificent trumpeter deserved a prodigious walk around, and who better than you to pay tribute to this emblematic figure?
Actually, I only knew the 4th generation, of which I have a copy, but as a friend of mine says, if there's a fourth, there must be a third. Yes, my friend is a fan of La Palice.
I also had no idea of the rarity of this model, but what impresses me the most is the plasticity presented by the extremely dynamic posture that the model exhibits. Movement can be perceived in every detail; it even scares to see other fragile figures near this beast. Thank you for dignifiedly presenting yet another piece of art and history from this hobby that we all appreciate so much.

It's a beautiful elephant, even better than the Gen IV in my opinion. Great photos too.

I wonder whether Caasmann is the only animal model sculptor after who a street is named. It's good that they honoured him this way. It shows how influential this sculptor and his models were.

I thought that the "standard" sized composition models were similar in size to the standard sized modern models, but that doesn't appear to be the case for the elephants. Does this mean that the composition models were better in scale with each other than the standard sized models by modern brands?

What a very beautiful model this is Christophe! just under 100 years old and it looks nearly perfect, the paintwork and colour depth look perfect.
As well as the sculpting, it is a very fine figure that shadows many of the newer models. Testament to Albert's observational skills.

Your knowledge is like an encyclopedia! You share the most amazing minute details about things from so long ago to do with these figures and their colourful history.

Yes Yvette, I'm very happy to have and show that awesome mighty
What would Kikimalou and his composition animal toys collection be without the talented artist Albert Caasmann ?

Yes Andreas I dont forget Dresden and Berlin but none of these cities gave to A.Caasmann a streetname.

Rogério, your friend, fan of La Palice, could also be wrong because there were Lineol III and IV African elephants but no first or second
For me, this model has it all, combining realism with a very dynamic pose that makes you want to take a trip into the heart of mysterious Africa. It's an invitation to daydream and epic adventures that no child can resist.

Roger I don't know other animal model sculptor after who a street is named but some should be honoured in the same way.
The "standard" sized composition zebras are similar in size to the standard sized modern zebras Yes the Lineol models were better in scale with each other than the standard sized models by modern brands.

Annette, in my mind Lineol is the company that best combines realism and poetry, and has earned a special place in toy heaven.
For me collecting knowledge and toys is indissociable, twenty years ago I was a nut

Kikimalou wrote:

Yes Yvette, I'm very happy to have and show that awesome mighty  
What would Kikimalou and his composition animal toys collection be without the talented artist Albert Caasmann ?  

Yes Andreas I dont forget Dresden and Berlin but none of these cities gave to A.Caasmann a streetname.  

Rogério, your friend, fan of La Palice, could also be wrong because there were  Lineol III and IV African elephants but no first or second  
For me, this model has it all, combining realism with a very dynamic pose that makes you want to take a trip into the heart of mysterious Africa. It's an invitation to daydream and epic adventures that no child can resist.

Roger I don't know other animal model sculptor after who a street is named but some should be honoured in the same way.
The "standard" sized composition zebras are similar in size to the standard sized modern zebras   Yes the Lineol models were better in scale with each other than the standard sized models by modern brands.

Annette, in my mind Lineol is the company that best combines realism and poetry, and has earned a special place in toy heaven.  
For me collecting knowledge and toys is indissociable, twenty years ago I was a nut    

Thats true. There is a very old house, very destroyed, on this area where Lineol was. Lineol was on a area in Dresden, there is now a brand for toothpaste. In the underground are many floors. I hope the brother of my wife (who work there) can on time help me to go in that underground and the house.

Wonderful walkaround of a wonderful piece, a true monument in all the sences of this word!

Thank you Alain