Durso

Sculptor Michel Klimov made small toy soldiers in Liège before establishing the Durso brand in 1938. Earlier figures bore marks such as “Belgium,” “Belgique” or “Fabrication belge.” The Durso name derives from the Latin motto “Duratum ac Solidum.” Klimov’s workshop was at 87 rue Saint-Gilles.

Durso produced military figures in marching and combat poses, alongside civilian characters and other subjects. The figures were made from a composition containing chalk, plaster, glue, sawdust, dextrin, horn and paper offcuts. They were sold through the toy department of Liège’s Grand Bazar, especially during the Saint Nicholas season. The Second World War slowed production, which expanded again after liberation.

From 1961, competition from plastic toy soldiers prompted Klimov to focus on collectors. He made commissioned series for associations and museums, as well as regional figures for the tourist souvenir market. A 1969 series of French military figures for collector Christian Blondieau used redesigned molds based on earlier models.