Vintage Bronze Belgian Water Boy Figurine 1945

This is a small, cast bronze or brass-plated metal figurine depicting a traditional Belgian 'Water Boy' or 'Yoke Bearer'. The figure is characterized by a youth wearing traditional European provincial clothing, including loose trousers and a neck gaiter, while carrying a wooden yoke over his shoulders with hoops at the ends for pails. The metalwork features a dark, aged bronze finish with significant patina and some verdigris buildup in the recessed areas, suggesting authentic age. The figurine is securely mounted on a circular, dark-stained wooden base. On the front of the base is a small, nailed-on metal plate with the embossed inscription 'BELGIQUE 1945'. This date and origin strongly suggest the piece was created as a commemorative souvenir or trench art style memento following the Liberation of Belgium during World War II. The craftsmanship is typical of mid-20th-century decorative souvenirs, showing cast textures rather than fine hand-tooling. Condition reveals minor surface wear on the wood base and consistent oxidation on the metal surfaces, commensurate with a 75-plus-year-old artifact originally intended for home display.