A wonderful playful figure, 7.5" tall with a base of 4.5", he was likely a match or perhaps cheroot, cigar holder. Not bronze, I'm not certain what the alloy is on this one, but it's had a gilded finish to it. Not spelter or regular brittle white metal, since it has suffered no breaks to the spoon handle or other rather fragile parts of the cast. It's heavy. And it's spectacularly fun. The little gent is perhaps a Revolutionary soldier, dressed in the bi-corn hat and long coat typical of the French Revolutionary period. A twist brass rope holds the soup pot over his shoulder and across his back. I've had this little guy for around 20 years, I believe. Time to disburse some of my collections, and here is your chance to acquire him. I bought him in Paris ages ago.
Very good to excellent, given age (c.1800s). Patina of applied gilding is worn away here and there, as you can see. No breaks, no restoration I can find. Again, not certain of the alloy, but it is not bronze, and not spelter (too brittle to have lasted, undamaged). Measurements are noted on the photos.
