help with identyfying figures

Hi i acquired these 3 figures, they are all signed "cuqini" or "cugini".
unsure if there brass or copper.
approx 2.5 inches tall
unsure if modern or old?
have googled name with no success, can anyone help.

 

Welcome, Paige. Hope it's not this Cugini!

 

Hi thanks for reply,
that article seems to relate more to art work, paintings than figurines.
on the base of one of them is Arabic writing perhaps that would point them in a different direction?

 

Sorry, bit of a joke. That Cugini was busted for dealing in fraudulent artworks.

If there is other writing or marks, it would be useful if you would show us. The more info you provide, the more our collective brain has to work with.

As of now, I suspect Cugini is the name of the company that produced them, not the name of the artist. Lined up in the order you have them in the pic of all 3, could almost be See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil, but expect that was not the intention.

 

Variations on the "Weeping Buddha"?

 

They look like African americans to me,I wonder if they are referencing slavery? Is that a mold line in the 3rd picture?

 

Hi again i have posted another picture of what looks to be Arabic writing.
in answer to the last question in my opinion there is no mold line.

 

sorry here is image

 

The last photo looks like they are painted resin.

 

I would have said simply African, but they certainly appear to be suffering, whoever they are, so a statement on someone's part.

Brass or copper? I'm with Holly, quite likely resin. Modern or old? Modern.

 

Hi ok , so originals or mass produced?
any info on who made them?

 

Italian artist, Arabic, North African looking models. Maybe Libyan?
I thought like Bronwen. That sure looks like see no evil....

 

I dont know why I said "african american" I guess its just habit now.