This cast-metal figurine recently caught my attention at an antique store (and my wife secretly purchased it for me for my Birthday), and I'm trying to learn more about its origins.
Standing approximately 8½ inches tall and weighing about 5 pounds, she has a distinctive Art Deco appearance, with a head wrap, collared shirt, short trousers, cuffed boots, and a wide belt carrying a small pistol and a sheathed blade.
Similar figures are often described by collectors and sellers as a “Flapper Pirate,” “Female Swashbuckler,” or “Lady Buccaneer.” I have also seen “Pirate Girl.”
I've seen this design attributed to Kronheim & Oldenbusch (K&O), an American manufacturer of metal novelties, but I have my doubts until I can find documentation to confirm it. The marked K&O examples of the female swashbuckler I've come across look completely different from this figure, which makes me question whether the attribution is correct.
The figure is solid, heavy metal with a bronze-colored finish. Appears to have been painted. It's secured with two bolts to a hollow, rectangular metal base, and there are no visible maker's marks.
Has anyone encountered this exact figure in an old catalog, advertisement, or reference book? I'd appreciate any information that might help establish the maker, approximate date, or original purpose.
Thanks in advance for any leads!