This authentic early 20th-century Hubley cast iron paperweight figure depicts a seated baby or young child wearing a traditional sailor-style outfit with a wide-brimmed sailor hat/tam and red trim.

Cast solid with a flat, unfinished bottom, this heavy miniature piece weighs 2.3 oz despite its compact 1.5" x 1.5" size. It features classic early cold-painted decoration over cast iron, showing rich age-appropriate patina and paint wear. The piece retains significant original cream/white, red, black, and yellow paint layers across the sailor suit, hat, face, and shoes.

Origin United States, Hubley Manufacturing Co.

Age c. 1910s–1920s (Circa 1915–1925).

Material Cast Iron (solid cast, cold-painted finish).

Condition Very Good antique condition with no cracks, breaks, chips, or repairs. Features widespread, authentic cold-paint loss, flaking, and surface oxidation/darkening consistent with over 100 years of handling. The flat underside shows typical rough foundry grinding and honest age-related darkening. Paint surface remains uncleaned and untouched to preserve original integrity.

Authenticity Assessment This piece displays key markers of period-authentic cast iron manufacture:

• Casting & Seams: Features a smooth, tight mold fit with fine detail integration typical of early 20th-century foundry hand-finishing.

• Surface Texture: Shows slight micro-pitting under paint loss rather than the coarse, pebbly surface characteristic of modern recasts.

• Paint Composition: The paint exhibits authentic cold-applied oil enamel behavior, micro-flaking along high points (shoes, knees, nose, hat brim) and natural paint oxidation without chemical artificial distressing.

• Base: The underside features a flat-ground mold base with authentic ambient wear, fine surface patina, and no modern modern drill marks or modern screw holes.

Reference

• Book Title: Cast Iron Decorator Toys and Doorstops (or The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks)

• Author: Andy & Susan Moore

• Reference Note: For style and foundry context, consult Cast Iron Toys by Bureau & Sears or The Penny Bank Book by Andy Moore, which catalogue contemporaneous 1910–1925 novelty castings and cold-paint color palettes from A.C. Williams and Hubley Manufacturing Co.

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Item Description and Condition Disclaimer

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