Just in from France, a figure I've never found in 4 decades of travel and buying - made like the wonderful Blackamoors, African elephants, camels, and etc., liqueur stands, this is a cold painted white metal ostrich just 4.5" tall, and his out furled wings have small hooks on the underside onto which his 2 baskets hang. One is sectioned, for ? matches, cheroot, toothpicks? The other is a regular flare basket, and each one hints at being a tabletop serving accessory. Full measurements noted on the photos. NOTE: The book stack is used only as a photo prop and is not included.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the cold painted ostrich retains much of all of its paint, and the brass plinth and baskets are bright brass, really charming with a patina of age. You can brighten them further with just a bit of brass polish. I like this look best - shows the age. It is mid-1800s, Napoleon III era or Second Empire. Likely first offered through the boutiques of the old Palais Royal. No breaks, no restorations. The weighted base has a bit of the plaster carved away, perhaps to re-anchor the pin of the back leg.
