French 1920s Wooden Soldier Skittles - Set of 5 with Ball painting of reunion painted whiskers and smiling red

painted whiskers and smiling red mouth

Passamaquoddy and Penobscot)

The glazing is great too--a purplish-gray that is subtle but cheerful

2 3/4" across at opening

represent Chassid

French 1920s Wooden Soldier Skittles - Set of 5 with Ball painting of reunion painted whiskers and smiling redI am pretty certain these wonderful hand painted turned wooden pins or skittles are French and that they date to the 1920s or so; I have found a few other sets which, though not exact matches, are fairly close. And I believe there would originally have been nine of them, to arrange in a diamond formation then roll this yellow ball at, in them hopes of knocking them all down. With their great tall hats and white buttons all down their fronts, at first