Folk Art Man (Shriner?) with Great Face and Tray continental painting I never paid a whole

I never paid a whole lot of attention to painted tintype portraits before

and was pretty struck by the rawness and potency of the early wrapped object sculptures

Sandbornton

so to be used as a curtain tie back or similar

Sold as pair

Folk Art Man (Shriner?) with Great Face and Tray continental painting I never paid a wholeI found this guy in Upstate NY near Albany, and while I don't usually go for folk art "butlers," he's shorter than most, easily set atop a table, and in his red cap looks to me like a Shriner, with tray out not to serve but rather to collect! Lots of personality in that painted face, too, looking both kindly and nervous or as if about to crack a joke! 19 1 2" t x 9 1 4" w at base x 4 1 2" d. Good condition, sturdy and sound, with general surface wear