18th-19th Century Toy Figure?

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Me and my brother nova treasure was hunting a homesite with finds pre 1850. The site has provided several nice finds. When I dug this little fellow up, I was pretty intrigued picturing a child from possibly the late 1700's to early 1800's era playing with it. I have yet to identify on google or several other references I've checked so far. Soon after this find, I managed to pull a large cent probably 35 feet away.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't see any identifying maker's marks or any other markings. I was very glad to find this fully intact from what I can tell.

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

Is it lead? I would be surprised if this dates to the late 1700s or into the 1830s.... I think you are looking at 1880s-early 1900s - however there is a chance it could date to the 1850s-1860s.... What exactly is it made out of?

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Is it lead? I would be surprised if this dates to the late 1700s or into the 1830s.... I think you are looking at 1880s-early 1900s - however there is a chance it could date to the 1850s-1860s.... What exactly is it made out of?

Good point. My first thoughts were lead or pewter, but as we all know neither would surface rust or scale up like this did on the surface. I'm now assuming iron or steel? I would love to further clean it up to some extent but not sure what to use. If it's iron or steel, would a mild soft wire brush be a bad idea?

 

[BosnMate]

Never use a wire brush on something good, or if you think it might be good. Good antique stuff can have the value really drop from being wire brushed. I'm thinking electrolysis would be the way to go.

 

[nova treasure]

most all of the finds found at this site was pre 1850's. But it's possible that it could be late 1800's as this was when the home was razed.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Most cast iron toys date to the 1880s-1930s.... In the 1850s-1860s there was cast iron toys.. I believe yours is probably 1870s- turn of century...

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Also depending on what soil it is found in or even it was found in a fire pit or place that was had fire... Lead can look like this...

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Never use a wire brush on something good, or if you think it might be good. Good antique stuff can have the value really drop from being wire brushed. I'm thinking electrolysis would be the way to go.

Thanks BosnMate. Do you have a link or step by step instructions for a good and safe electrolysis treatment? I have not done this before