Bidspirit auction | 19th-Century European Hand-Carved Hardwood Peddler

19th-Century European Hand-Carved Hardwood Peddler Spill Holder - A 19th-century European hand-carved hardwood spill holder or desk accessory, depicting a rustic male figure in 19th-century attire. The figure is carved in a hunched, prayerful pose with hands clasped, wearing a tall top hat, a long frock coat, and buckled shoes. On his back, he carries a large double-cylindrical pack featuring two deep, hollowed-out compartments intended for use as a spill holder, pen holder, or pipe rack. The piece is crafted from a dense, fine-grained reddish-brown hardwood, likely walnut or fruitwood, and stands on an integral, textured, mound-like base. The underside of the base shows several handwritten characters in dark ink, including '4', '0', and '4', followed by a possible 'J', and a vertical inscription reading '1948', likely representing former collection or inventory marks. No maker's marks or factory stamps are visible.