Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) painted bisque doll 10 3/8" x 10 1/4"

10 3/8" x 10 1/4" x 1 1/4"

There is a label glued to the bottom of one indicating that it is based on the 1863 C

The handle is  carved black horn

There is one patch of irregularity to the stain

which came from a fantastic set of handmade Punch and Judy puppets

Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) painted bisque doll 10 3/8" x 10 1/4"I've had this squirrel for a while, found at at estate sale at some point, and have always loved it as a little thing, holding a nut in its little hands, and with long flat tale as a handle. I'd think it a pipe tamper, but usually the tamping end would be more extended, so perhaps it was meant to press a wax seal, but was never engraved with a stamp? In any case, a sweet little thing, which stands on its own and can be moved around by the tail. 2 1 2"