Antique Spelter or Bronze Figurine of a Boy Selling Bottles

This is a small decorative sculpture depicting a young boy in 19th-century attire, likely representing a street vendor or 'Le Petit Marchand.' The figure is crafted from a dark patinated metal, most likely cast spelter (white metal) with a bronze-toned finish, though it could potentially be solid bronze. The boy wears a floppy cap, a neckerchief, and long pants tucked into shoes. In his right hand, he carries a woven basket filled with several bottles, and in his left hand, he holds what appears to be a metal key or tool. The sculpture stands on an integral, tiered circular base with visible relief lettering that likely indicates the title or the artist's name, though the specific text is blurred. The craftsmanship shows intricate texture on the basket weave and the folds of the clothing, indicative of late 19th to early 20th-century European metalwork, possibly French in origin. Regarding condition, there is significant dusting and minor surface oxidation visible in the crevices. The patina shows uneven wear, particularly on the prominent features like the face and hands, which is typical for handled decorative pieces of this age. No major fractures or missing limbs are immediately apparent in the photograph, though the structural integrity of the basket handle should be inspected closely. The overall aesthetic suggests a Romanticized realism common in Victorian-era cabinet bronzes.