LAST QUARTER OF 19TH CENTURY

This unusual figure may relate to two slightly smaller religous figures, called "preacher" and "missionary", of this same high quality and late period, one in the Hodroff collection and published by D.S. Howard, Choice of the Private Trader, no. 310, and the other sold Christie's London, 13 May 1996, lot 129. It has also been suggested that it may represent a Middle Eastern merchant or trader.