User:Mdjeffrey

= Napoleonic Toys = Napoleonic toys are children's toys, which were made starting during the early 1800's, which featured the likeness of Napoleon I of France, often in the manner of a caricature.

Image
During his reign as Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte was arguably the most prominent figure in world politics at the time. As such, he was often the subject of caricatures in media such as propagandist political cartoons. Notable caricatures of Napoleon came from English artists, who often caricatured Napoleon in a very unflattering manner, as the English were prominent foes of Napoleon in the Napoleonic Wars. The Napoleon-based character of "Little Boney" appeared in many cartoons at the time. The "Little Boney" depiction of Napoleon often made light of his supposedly diminutive stature. In addition, Napoleon was often shown as having a disproportionally large cocked hat, long dark hair, and a sallow face.

Toys
In the countries of Napoleon's foes, such as England, the image of "Little Boney", a persona created by cartoonists such as James Gillray and Isaac Cruikshank, started to appear on a diverse array of everyday items around the years 1802-1805. The caricature image of Napoleon appeared in the early 1800's on many different items which included playing cards, lottery tickets, thermometers, walking sticks, and snuff boxes. “During the acute crisis of 1803-5 the huge cocked-hat, sallow face, long dark hair, and swaggering attitude of “Little Boney” intruded themselves everywhere. They invaded the games, puzzles, and primers of the children; they figured conspicuously on the playing-cards, the lottery-tickets, and even the snuff boxes of their anxious fathers and mothers; they afforded congenial occupation for the potters of Worcester, Derby, Leeds, Bristol, and Staffordshire. Pipe-bowls and walking-sticks were decorated with heads of Bonaparte as grotesque and forbidding as those which adorn the fantastic mugs and jugs, a unique series of which may now be seen in the Brighton Museum. The portrait of the emperor on an ingeniously contrived thermometer of cardboard and catgut made in 1805 is too good to allow of its being placed in the category of caricatures. In its right hand is a laurel crown, which now points persistently at tempest.” (Napoleon in Caricature: 1795-1821 Vol. I, p. 3) Like their adult counterparts, items for children began to appear emblazoned with the image of Napoleon around the same time. The caricatured image of Napoleon appeared on childrens' toys such as puzzles, games, and primers.

Significance
There are a number of hypotheses as to why the image of Napoleon because so prominent on items including the toys of children. One hypothesis states that the image of Napoleon on the toys of children signified a respect for Napoleon that manifested as a type of hero-worship, or as a type of child-like fear of Napoleon and the military might of his empire. Another hypothesis states quite the contrary and asserts that the reason for the images of Napoleon on the toys of children was due to a lack of respect for Napoleon and his policies.

Romantic Concern
The decidedly unflattering portrayal of Napoleon in various caricatures became a concern of Romantic-era writers as to how the images reflect the humanity of Napoleon himself as a man. Depictions of Napoleon in political cartoons vary widely and include depictions of Napoleon as a diminutive child, being nude, and being a large and monstrous figure that was intent on literally devouring the world.