Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) folk art couple with this man in greens

with this man in greens

I have stashed them

but I think they were stored in a basement for some time where there was some moisture as there is a little mildew here and there showing against the black paper inside the slides

transforming its profile and character dramatically in the process

Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) folk art couple with this man in greensI'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"