Charming Small Gold Painted Tramp Art Hanging Match Holder Dated 1900 vintage tooled leather plus his cap and pointy

plus his cap and pointy nose to match

but the exterior is hard and the base is wood

I'd long been admiring both the forms and color on early croquet posts

the patterns certainly feel Northern European

Charming Small Gold Painted Tramp Art Hanging Match Holder Dated 1900 vintage tooled leather plus his cap and pointyYes, this lovely wall hanging piece could indeed hold some matches or other little things, but I'd treat it as pure sculpture, perhaps a bit like a crucifix for the believer in small wonders! 8 stacked chip carved layers on the pocket, and little carved stars topping each of the round bits, all painted gold, which has mellowed perfectly with age. On the underside of the pocket its maker carved their initials and the year, 1900 quite a nice way to mark