Strange Boy & Girl Figural Metal Candlesticks?

They do look like candles; I had not really put the whole thing together. So you're probably correct that she had one in her outstretched hand. When did candles stop being a luxury good?

 

I just read on a Dutch site that from the 15th century onward people were able to make candles at home, which cut costs considerably. They became available to most households here. But I don't know how it was elsewhere.
Stearine candles were invented in the early 19th century, paraffin candles in the middle of the 19th century.

 

Wow a lot of messages guys, thanks

It's hard to tell what she's holding. They're 3 rods of even length and rather uniform which would suggest that they're supposed to be a man-made object. The drum in the boys hand is made separate and can move around, it's likely there was something in the girl's hand too - perhaps she was holding out a hat or something for donations? It does look like the girl is performing in some way, most likely selling something as other have said; when the figures are placed together it looks as though the boy is looking over towards the girl.

Very interesting, nice find! I think seeing that, it gives a lot more validation to it likely being a monkey too.

I was very intruiged when you pointed this out, alas when I looked at the figure in person it doesn't look anything like text. It's a weird quirk of the image.

I'm always scared of ruining these things. However the girl is in a pretty sorry state anyway so I may consider trying to clean her up at some point.

 

I guess the boy monkey theme was fairly common in Victorian Times.

 

The last porcelain figure above & your little guy have the same little flask (or is it a coin purse?) at the side.

 

Very well noticed! I guess it may be a coin purse for collections.

 

Just found these two trading cards, this time a monkey and an actual drum. For some reason the image appears to be used to advertise Rheumatazi and poxy supposed cure for rheumatism.

 

I'm reading through a serious attempt at antique analysis from varied sources and without warning appears this primate banging a drum. Ha Ha Ha. Bronwen, thanks for the laugh!

 

Now, if only the drum had a boy sitting on it! When the boy's away...