This is a Victorian era hand painted figural toothpick holder, match holder which could also be a small vase, depicting a boy with a hat carrying a pack shaped like a cracked egg shell with flowers.

The figure is what is referred to as a fairing, or something that was won or given out at a fair or carnival and was made 1870-1890s.

The porcelain boy with his egg shell pack measures 5 inches high by 4 inches long by 3 inches wide and is hand painted with raised enamel dots on his trousers and applied flowers on the egg.

The bottom is marked with the shield of Conta and Boehme, Germany and the pattern number 6388.

The little boy is in very good +++ used vintage condition with the only damage being a few missing beads on his trousers, a few small chips to the applied flowers and a bit of gold trim wear.

The egg shell was quite grey when I found him, and I thought it might have started out that way, but 150 years of grime cleaned off beautifully. The egg is white again!

A wonderful survival of the Victorian era and beautifully painted. So decorative!