Neapolitan Carved Wooden Smiling Man as Card Player

Live Auction

22" (56 cm.) standing. 17" seated. Carved wooden shoulderhead of man, carved short brown hair brushed forward into forelock details, sculpted ears, inset large eyes, strong nose, mouth modeled open and smiling, row of sculpted teeth, tow-wrapped posable body, carved wooden lower arms and legs, painted wrinkled brown leggings and black shoes with red buckles, wearing white cotton shirt, blue vest, red silk pants, and holding playing cards, posed seated in wooden chair (included). Excellent condition, original painted finish is worn on shoulderplate (under costume), Neapolitan, early 1700s, the celebrated sculptor Giacomo Colombo (1663-1739) has been suggested as carver although undocumented at this time.