Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases and reaching their height of

and reaching their height of popularity in the mid-1800s

I've divided them up into groups--what you see is exactly what you'll get

true jet black of those gorgeous spades

but I am pretty certain they are French

British and early 20th century I believe

Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases and reaching their height ofIt was suggested to me when I purchased this that it was a piece of trench art, and I think that it likely, with the canister made from a shell casing and the little chopping man cut from from some scrap. In any case, it's certainly it's own special folk art thing, and I really love this smiling but very focused looking fellow very intent on the task at hand, which looks to me to be splitting a piece of wood. Incised on both sides, and serving as a