English or Scottish, early 19th century
Carved wood, polychrome paint decorated
Condition: Overall excellent, retaining the original painted surface and varnish. Minor paint loss and imperfections.
This particular example of a Scottish highlander is extremely well-executed and rare for it’s state of preservation. It is one of the best examples we have seen. After the “Act of Union” between England and Scotland in 1707, Glasgow became one of the chief ports for the importation of American tobacco. These carved wood Highlander figures often holding a snuff-mull and “proffering” a pinch of snuff, became a popular sign for tobacconists in the 18th and early 19th centuries.