Neapolitan Persian Snake Charmer with Flute and Sculpted Turban

Live Auction

11" (28 cm.) l. 8"h. Arranged upon a wooden platform to appear as though grassy ground is a seated man with carved wooden head, sculpted thick turban above flowing brown curls and shaped beard and moustache, enamel eyes, mouth modeled to hold the tip of the wooden flute he is holding, wooden torso and firmly-formed body in seated pose with crossed ankles. He is seated across with a woven basket from which is protruding a carved wooden snake with painted eyes and feet. Excellent condition. Neapolitan, mid-1700s, very rare example of varied persons designed to people the busy 18th century street presepio scenes.