 | |
| Mithril Miniatures | |
|---|---|
| Company Information | |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Products | Miniatures |
| Parent | The Edman Group Ltd |
Mithril Miniatures is an Irish manufacturer of collectable metal miniatures based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. It operates as a brand and trading name of The Edman Group Ltd, the same parent company behind the company Prince August from which Mithril originated in 1987.[1][2]
History
Following success with their own "Fantasy Armies" line of ready-cast figures in the 1980s, Prince August sought to acquire a high-profile licensing agreement and successfully negotiated a worldwide license with the Tolkien Estate. To differentiate the new product line, the company branded itself as “Mithril” when marketing it.[1]
Mithril maintained a close working relationship with Iron Crown Enterprises, the publisher of Middle-earth Role Playing. They collaborated with ICE president Pete Fenlon to ensure their miniature designs were consistent with the aesthetic established in ICE's sourcebooks.[1] This partnership ended with ICE's loss of the license and subsequent bankruptcy.[2]
Design
The visual identity of the range was defined by sculptor Chris Tubb, who joined Prince August in 1979. The initial high-quality casting standards were established by Tom Wilkinson, while his successor Dan Kelleher innovated on those for mass production. All figures are factory-primed with a durable base coat, making them suitable for display even when unpainted.[3]
Products
Sculptor: Chris Tubb.
- M1 - M25 Races of Middle-earth
- M26 - M31 Riders of Rohan
- M32 - M41 Cardolan - Thieves of Tharbad
- M42 - M51 Witch-king of Angmar Army
- M52 - M61 The Shire People
- M62 - Smaug the Dragon
- M63 - M72 Halls of the Elven-king
- M73 - M82 Far Harad
- M83 - M92 Mirkwood I - The Vales of the Anduin
- M93 - M102 Mount Gundabad - The Goblin's City
- M103 - M112 Mirkwood II - The Forest Depths
- M113 - M129 At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
- M130 - M135 Lake-town
- M145 - M154 Gorgoroth
- M155 - M164 Durin's Dwarves (for Moria: The Dwarven City)
- M165 - M174 Ghost-warriors (for Haunted Ruins of the Dunlendings)
- M175 - M184 Isengard
- M185 - M194 Fangorn Forest
- M195 - M204 Minas Tirith
- M205 - M214 Lórien Elves
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lards Edman & Chris Tubb, "Mithril Miniatures — a brief history", Mithril Handbook, 1, 1991, p. 1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Mithril Miniatures". www.miniatures-workshop.com
- ↑ "Design and production", Mithril Handbook, 1, 1991, pp. 2-3
| Licensed miniatures for gaming in Middle-earth | |
| Heritage Models (1978) | |
| Grenadier Models Inc. (1985) | |
| Mithril Miniatures (1987-) | |
| Harlequin Miniatures (1990s) | |
| Games Workshop: Citadel ME (1985-1987) • Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game (2001-) | |