Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) celluloid box which became classics of French

which became classics of French literature

The fantastic scrimshawed drawings on the sides--of a man with dog facing a man with bird on one side

I recently bought a group of old kid's drawings of airplanes

it's perfect for serving fresh squeezed orange juice at breakfast

Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) celluloid box which became classics of FrenchI'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"