Featured Miniature carved bone (?) figure

I acquired these two interesting little carvings today. When I saw them in a plastic bag in a box of junk items I thought they were vintage plastic cake toppers! On closer inspection I realised they were something quite different!
I spent some time trying to research them online but am still really not sure of their age or exact origin.
Some of the totem poles that look very similar to mine are variously described as North West Buffalo bone, Inuit or Alaskan whale tooth ivory and many other things in between & also dates range from 1900 to the 1950s!!
Although I found some with almost identical carving, paintwork, wings etc I haven't found another with a circular base like mine. I think I can see a signature on the base - maybe an X......? but can't make it out even with my loupe.
I have no idea who the second figure is meant to be! I know he doesn't come under the Tribal umbrella but I just put him here as I found the two together. I can always move him to another thread.
I wonder if he originally had a hat as the top of his head is flat & slightly angled. His base unscrews.
Both are about 2.5 inches high.
Any information would be welcomed!

 

Both look like bone to me, although I can't say what kind. I'm getting a George Washington vibe off the man.

 

@all_fakes .... knows totems !

 

Here's an avenue to search the the man ...
https://www.chessantiquesonline.com/

 

the base of the totem pole was added later....... & is not standard or original to the item..
I've seen these suggested circa 1910 to 1970.....so a wide range...

https://www.icollector.com/4-Miniature-Totem-Poles_i27303520

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Yes, I wondered if he could be GW or another early president too.

 

Thank you - for some reason a chess piece never occurred to me! I had a look at the site and found a set with pieces almost identical to mine. It seems it's much older than I thought.

 

Thanks - I saw this when I was searching earlier. I did wonder about the base as all the others seem to have square ones.

 

I was thinking Benjamin Franklin, with that hair.

It could have come from a chess piece, or other non-Native carving.

 

More information on German bone and ivory chess pieces. Your figure may be a Geislingen Läufer -

"The “Läufer” (engl. Bishop, fr. Fool) is an officer slightly turned in his hips."

http://www.chess-museum.com/chess-sets-from-dieppe-and-geislingen-by-b-hollaumlnder.html

 

No idea about the figure, but small/tiny carved totems were quite common in Alaska; usually would be bone or sometimes ivory, but can't really tell about yours. Could be any date from 1910 to 1970, but I'd guess somewhere in between. Base is indeed an addition.

 

Thanks for all your replies.
It would seem that the man is a Geislingen (or very similar) chess piece - I found an almost identical one in the link Roaring20s posted.
The totem pole base is so similar I think it too must have come from a chess piece.