Italian Porcelains?  Need your help to Identify these!

These are my two new "figurines".  Both are dry, unglazed porcelain or china.  Neither have any kind of mark on the bottom.  THe smaller is about 9 inches high at the man's head, the larger about 10 1/2"-11  inches.  The decoration on the plinth (base) is similar, as are the colors and type of detailing.  They may or not be from the same manufacturer. ANY help as to who made them (they "Feel" Italian to me), age (Perhaps 1950's?) origin, anything at ALL would be greatly appreciated.  e-mail Leah

Here is a closeup of the "amphora" piece.  Note the detailing in the basket weave.  The vase on the donkey's back is actually hollow, too.  There are no chips or cracks that I can find.

We think the old man is an oil-seller, or perhaps a wine-seller?  There is a spigot on the barrel.  THe piece attracted me because of the Poitou-like features of the donkey.  Very coarse, lop eared, and shaggy, even down his legs, and with a lay-over mane and forelock.   But the off-white color is commonly seen in some older Italian pieces.   The piece was broken across the plinth and repaired.

The reverse side of the wine-seller and his white Poitou type donkey.  The red wheel is very detailed.  Right at the donkey's barrel (ribs) there is a broken-off tree branch.  It isn't noteceable except from the top. See his long shaggy hairy legs!!!

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