Brass Figurine with Musket--Where from?

[kahnjar1]

This little guy needs to know where he came from as he has lost his memory. Perhaps someone can please identify his homeland from the clothes he is wearing? He is holding a musket of some sort with the barrel broken off. He has a very bushy moustache and long hair.
Height is approx. 9" cast in brass.
Stu

[Ian]

Stu:

The kilt-like garment looks like the traditional fustanella that was worn by the celebrated Greek klephts in the War of Independence (1821-1829). Later in the 19th C. this same garb was adopted by elite Greek light infantry forces known as the Evzones, and the dress has been preserved by that group who now make up the Presidential Guard and the ceremonial guard for the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Attached below is a picture of Evzones taken in the late 19th C. I think your statue depicts one of the klephts from the earlier War of Independence. The bushy moustache was a common Greek male feature of that period.

Ian.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ian

Stu:

The kilt-like garment looks like the traditional fustanella that was worn by the celebrated Greek klephts in the War of Independence (1821-1829). Later in the 19th C. this same garb was adopted by elite Greek light infantry forces known as the Evzones, and the dress has been preserved by that group who now make up the Presidential Guard and the ceremonial guard for the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Attached below is a picture of Evzones taken in the late 19th C. I think your statue depicts one of the klephts from the earlier War of Independence. The bushy moustache was a common Greek male feature of that period.

Ian.

Thanks Ian, I did wonder about Greece but the quilted appearance of the "skirt" threw me off somewhat. The head dress certainly looks right though.
Stu

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Not unlike the stance at Minuteman Hill and the head dress, socks and shoes are similar ...see http://06880danwoog.com/tag/battle-of-compo-hill/

However, the base of the statue or plinth is similar to Indian style oil lamps in construction... I look to Indian style brass statues for a possible link...The tunic even looks similar to the Sri Lankan Mudalyer style?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ian]

Ibrahim:

Thank you for the alternate suggestions of this little statue's origins.

Just a little more on the fustanella. There is a surprisingly good article on wikipedia (here) about the history of the fustanella in Greece and neighboring areas of the Balkans. Looking at the head covering and face of this little guy, and his wonderful moustache, I think he looks Greek or Albanian rather than from the Indian subcontinent.

Ian.

[Ian]

Some military pictures from around the time of the Greek War of Independence.

The first one is taken from a painting, Warrior ("Pallikari") of Sellaida (Souli), Greece, by Dupré Louis (1820).

The second is an Hellenic Army General in full dress uniform (1835).

The third is titled, A Greek and an Arnaut wearing the Fustanella costume, Russia, 1862.

Ian.

[Ian]

And one more. Another painting by Louis Dupré showing his depiction of Greek rebels hoisting the flag at Salona, a scene from the early stages of the Greek War of Independence. Not the pleated futanella, the ribbed shirt sleeve, the sleeveless jacket, the cap with long hair, and the moustache. Also a very nice looking kilij for a humble peasant.

Ian.

[kahnjar1]

Thanks very much Ian for the great pics and information.
The wee guy is on his way home, with a couple of sacks of gold, since Euros are not worth much to him now........
Stu.

[Valjhun]

I wande what is he holding in hands....
a flintlock?

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Valjhun

I wande what is he holding in hands....
a flintlock?

Maybe but it could also be a matchlock....hard to tell.