Featured Whippet, Whippet Good….Clock Topper

I assume this is a clock topper. What I wonder is what’s up with the little brass piece? It’s not functional in any way as a knob or button or anything. What was its purpose?

 

Looks like it's supposed to be a spinning top to me.

 

The whippet is wondering the same thing.

 

Maybe a dog toy of the period. It's not the only thing on the ground. What's that thing that looks like a hand? Other thing looks like a drumstick; you definitely could send this speedy dog running with that.

Sometimes these are allegorical. Don't think so in this case.

 

I think it is meant to be a doll in a dress. It looks like the whippet tipped over a child's toy box, and is surprised by its contents.

 

That crossed my mind. I would have liked to see it a bit more detailed in form if that’s the case but I guess you don’t always get what you want.

 

he is!

 

Doll, blanket, and drumstick.

 

Are you sure a clock topper?
Looks like a stand alone piece to me, but would have had a wooden base.

The gold piece doesn't push down, twist, unscrew?

 

It sure is a spinning top, gilded for contrast, as it is the justification of the dog's otherwise weird stance. I love it.

 

Not positive. I assumed it was but it could have been a stand alone piece. Nope to the latter.

 

That would make sense. Watching it spin in wonderment.. I just wish the detail was nicer on the top. I feel like to doesn’t really match the rest of the piece. Oh well! Still a nice looking thing.

 

bottom plate doesn't lift to see if it had electric cables? from the sujet it could be an electric Butler's Bell.

 

Looks like that underneath base has already been removed before.....why not remove it again and see what's going on under there......? That 'top' just doesn't look right........

 

Nada going on down below. Well some weird, gross looking remnants of some unknown wormy insect it looks like. A more jacked up looking base now. Nothing else going on though.

 

I agree though on not looking quite right.

 

Something was glued to the base at some point, like felt or maybe a proper wooden or stone base (or the clock case if indeed a clock topper), something you should consider replacing, I think, you know, to shape it up, get straight, go forward, move ahead. You've tried to detect it, and it's not too late to ...

 

This little fella guards my keys. I think he might be a French relative of your little fella.