Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases true jet black of those

true jet black of those gorgeous spades

British and early 20th century I believe

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

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

I purchased this from a seller in England

Curious Old Brass Wood Splitting Man Folk Art Match Holder (?) wooden bases true jet black of thoseIt 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