[1] Though largely superseded in popularity from the late 19th century by fully rounded three-dimensional lead figures, these flat tin soldiers continue to be produced.
The first mass-produced tin soldiers were made in Germany as a tribute to Frederick the Great[2] during the 18th century.
Johann Gottfried Hilpert (1748–1832) and his brother Johann Georg Hilpert (1733–1811) established an early assembly-line in 1775 for soldiers and other figures; female painters applied a single color on each figurine as it was passed around the workshop.
[4] The world's largest Tin Soldier is located in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
Tin soldiers also play a role in "The Nutcracker Suite" as well as "Knight's Castle" by Edward Eager.