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Title length: 70 characters
Category
Collectibles > Historical Memorabilia > Civil War (1861–65) > Other Civil War Memorabilia
Because this is a later commemorative collectible, not an actual 1860s artifact, I would make that distinction very clear in the description.
Exact Identification
This is a commemorative tabletop figurine depicting Jefferson Davis, identified directly by the applied front plaque:
“President Jefferson Davis”
Jefferson Davis served as president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. Before that, he had served as a U.S. senator and as U.S. secretary of war.
The sculpture depicts Davis in formal 19th-century civilian dress rather than a military uniform.
Visible sculptural details include:
- Long formal frock coat
- Buttoned waistcoat/vest
- Bow tie
- Decorative watch chain or vest chain
- Period trousers and shoes
- Papers or small book held in his left hand
- Right hand raised near his chest
- Distinctive swept hairstyle
- Separate column-style pedestal/table beside him
- Antiqued silver/pewter-tone finish
- Oval stepped black display plinth
- Silver-tone identification plaque
- Crossed flag-and-drum decorative emblem
- Black felt underside
Manufacturer / Maker ResearchMaker: Currently Unknown
I researched the figure rather than assigning a famous maker based only on appearance.
There are known Jefferson Davis figures by:
- W. Britain / Ertl
- Ronald Cameron and other Civil War collectible sculptors
- Various commemorative historical-figure manufacturers
But none of the examples I could verify matches your piece closely enough to responsibly assign the maker.
Your photographs do not show a visible maker\'s stamp, copyright, artist signature, model number, serial number, country mark, or edition number.
Therefore I would use:
Brand: Unbranded / Unknown
Maker: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
That is much safer than incorrectly calling it Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, W. Britain or Ronald Cameron.
Material
The figure visually appears to be cast metal with an antiqued pewter/silver finish.
However, I cannot prove from the photographs alone whether the alloy is solid pewter, spelter, zinc alloy, or another cast metal.
Therefore the safest entry is:
Material: Metal
Finish: Pewter Tone / Antiqued Silver
In the description:
“Cast metal or metal-composite construction with antiqued pewter-tone finish; exact alloy is unmarked and unknown.”
Do not list “solid pewter” unless a marking later confirms it.
Measurements — Updated From Your New Photo
Your newest photograph is very helpful because the tape is positioned alongside the entire piece.
Directly supported measurement
Overall height: approximately 6¼ inches
The top of Davis\'s head reaches around the 6¼-inch point relative to the base.
Additional approximate measurements
Using the other ruler photograph and the established scale:
Base width: approximately 4 inches
Base depth: approximately 3¼–3½ inches
Figure height from sculpted oval platform to top of head: approximately 5 inches
Front plaque width: approximately 3¼ inches
Small sculpted platform beneath figure: approximately 3 inches wide
Pedestal/table height: approximately 2½ inches
These secondary measurements are approximate because they\'re derived from photographs rather than individual straight-on ruler measurements.
CONDITIONPre-Owned — Very Good Overall With Bent Front Nameplate
This should not be listed as excellent condition without qualification because the nameplate has a visible issue.
The silver-tone plaque reading:
“President Jefferson Davis”
is slightly bent/curved outward, especially toward one end.
It appears like it may be capable of being carefully straightened, but I strongly recommend that the listing say only that it is bent and leave it as-is.
I would not promise that it can be bent back, because older thin metal can crease, separate from its mounting, or break when manipulated.
condition statement
Very good pre-owned condition overall with one noted flaw. The silver-tone front identification plaque reading “President Jefferson Davis” is slightly bent/curved outward, as clearly shown in the photographs. No attempt has been made to straighten it. The figurine itself appears complete, with the head, hands, papers/book, clothing details, pedestal/table, decorative emblem and black display base all present. No obvious major cracks, broken limbs or missing sculptural pieces are visible. Antiqued finish shows minor age/display wear consistent with a pre-owned collectible. Black felt underside shows light lint/storage wear. Please review all photographs carefully for exact condition.
EXTENSIVE ITEM SPECIFICSItem SpecificEnter ThisSubjectJefferson DavisFull NameJefferson Finis DavisTypeFigurine / StatueHistorical FigureJefferson DavisHistorical PeriodAmerican Civil WarOffice DepictedPresident of the Confederate StatesEra Depicted1861–1865ThemeAmerican History / Civil WarMaterialMetalExact MetalUnknownFinishAntiqued Pewter Tone / Silver ToneColorSilver / Pewter / BlackFigure ColorPewter / Antique SilverBase ColorBlackStyleHistorical / Formal Civilian DressAccessoriesPapers/Book, Pedestal/TablePlaque TextPresident Jefferson DavisDecorative MotifCrossed Flags / DrumBase ShapeOval / SteppedBase MaterialMolded Display BaseBase BottomBlack FeltItem HeightApprox. 6.25 inBase WidthApprox. 4 inBase DepthApprox. 3.25–3.5 inFigure HeightApprox. 5 in above sculpted platformNumber of Items1CollectionCivil War / Historical FiguresOriginal/ReproductionLater Commemorative CollectibleAntiqueNoCivil War Period / visible signatureNumberedNo visible numberLimited EditionNot verifiedCountry of original box shownConditionPre-Owned – Very Good with Bent PlaqueUPCLeave blankMPNLeave blankFULL COPY-READY DESCRIPTIONPresident Jefferson Davis Civil War Historical Figurine Statue — Approx. 6¼\"
Detailed commemorative historical figurine depicting Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.
The figure is rendered in a handsome antiqued silver/pewter-tone finish and depicts Davis standing in formal mid-19th-century civilian attire.
He wears a long frock coat over a buttoned waistcoat, bow tie and period trousers. Fine sculptural details include the buttons, vest chain, folds of the coat and trousers, facial features, swept hair and shoes.
Davis holds what appears to be a group of papers or a small book in his left hand while his right hand is raised near his chest.
Beside him is a small column-style pedestal or table, adding another dimension to the composition.
The figure stands on its own textured oval sculptural platform, which is mounted to a larger stepped black presentation base.
The front of the base has a silver-tone identification plaque reading:
“President Jefferson Davis”
At the left side of the plaque is a detailed decorative emblem featuring crossed flags and a drum.
The underside of the presentation base is covered in black felt.
HISTORICAL SUBJECT
Jefferson Davis served as president of the Confederate States from 1861 through 1865. Before the Civil War he graduated from West Point, served in the U.S. Army, represented Mississippi in the U.S. Senate, and served as U.S. secretary of war under President Franklin Pierce.
This piece is a later commemorative historical collectible.
It is not an original Civil War-period artifact.
APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS
Overall Height: approximately 6¼ inches
Base Width: approximately 4 inches
Base Depth: approximately 3¼–3½ inches
Figure Height Above Sculpted Platform: approximately 5 inches
Front Nameplate Width: approximately 3¼ inches
Pedestal/Table Height: approximately 2½ inches
Please see the photographs with ruler/tape for scale.
MATERIAL & FINISH
The figurine has the appearance of a cast metal historical collectible with an antiqued pewter/silver-tone finish.
Because there is no visible material marking, the exact metal alloy has not been confirmed.
The figure is therefore being described conservatively as:
Cast metal / metal-composite with pewter-tone finish — exact composition unknown.
The black presentation base has a stepped oval shape with a felt-covered underside.
MAKER
No maker\'s mark, artist signature, model number, copyright date, production number or country-of-origin mark is visible in the supplied photographs.
A number of collectible manufacturers produced Jefferson Davis and other Civil War figures, but this particular piece has not been conclusively attributed to a maker.
It is intentionally being listed as maker unknown rather than assigning an unsupported manufacturer.
CONDITIONVery Good Pre-Owned Condition Overall — Front Plaque Is Slightly Bent
The figurine presents very nicely overall.
The primary condition issue is the silver-tone front nameplate marked:
“President Jefferson Davis.”
The plaque is slightly bent/curved outward, visible most clearly toward the end of the plate in the photographs.
It appears that it might potentially be capable of careful reshaping; however, no attempt has been made to straighten it and no repair is guaranteed.
The Jefferson Davis figure itself appears complete.
The following visible elements remain present:
- Head and facial features
- Both arms and hands
- Papers/book
- Vest and coat detailing
- Textured sculptural platform
- Decorative flag-and-drum emblem
- Identification plaque
- Black presentation base
No obvious large cracks, broken limbs, or major missing sculptural components are visible.
There may be minor age-related finish variation, rubbing or display wear.
The black felt bottom shows normal light lint/storage wear.
Please review all photographs carefully, especially the close-ups of the front plaque, as the photographs are an important part of the condition description.
BUYER Q&A
Q: Who is depicted?
A: Jefferson Davis, identified by the original front plaque reading “President Jefferson Davis.”
Q: How tall is it?
A: Approximately 6¼ inches overall, based on the photographed tape measurement.
Q: Is this actually from the Civil War?
A: No. It is a later commemorative collectible depicting a Civil War-era historical figure, not an artifact manufactured during 1861–1865.
Q: Is it pewter?
A: It has an antiqued pewter appearance and appears to be cast metal, but there is no visible material mark proving the exact alloy. It is therefore being listed as metal with a pewter-tone finish.
Q: Who made it?
A: The maker is currently unknown. No manufacturer\'s mark or signature is visible in the supplied photographs.
Q: Is it Franklin Mint?
A: There is no evidence currently identifying it as Franklin Mint, so it should not be listed that way.
Q: Is it W. Britain?
A: I found a documented W. Britain/Ertl Jefferson Davis figure, but it is a different sculpt and presentation from this example.
Q: Is it a Ronald Cameron figure?
A: A Ronald Cameron Jefferson Davis pewter figurine is known in the collector market, but I have not found enough identifying evidence to attribute this particular sculpture to him.
Q: Is anything broken?
A: I do not see an obvious broken figure component in the supplied photographs.
Q: What is wrong with the plaque?
A: The front identification plaque is slightly bent/curved outward. It remains attached and readable.
Q: Can the plaque be bent back?
A: It may potentially be possible, but no attempt has been made and I would not guarantee that modification.
Q: Does it have the original box?
A: No original packaging is shown with the item.
SEARCH KEYWORDS
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