“Blackamoor” bust - what IS it?

This “blackamoor” chalkware bust has me stumped. What exactly is it? There are holes in the top of the head, about an inch deep, but I’m not sure if they were meant for flowers, flags or something else. Also, with the “Cargo” necklace, could this be an advertising piece for a company or brand of this name?

Here are some pics:

 

Size?

 

Hope it has nothing to do with Africans aboard ships as cargo.

 

Those holes look pretty small, but tobacco products was what first cams to my mind. How small is a cigarillo?

 

Bust is about 6” tall. The twelve holes in the head are each about four miilimeters in diameter.

 

I was thinking maybe pencils, but holes look too small even for that? (I'm a Yank with no immediate sense of 4mm, but pretty small, no?) What might you have up to a dozen of, that could stand in these holes without falling out, & perhaps in some way complete the look of the bust. Store display for Cargo brand _____?

 

Interesting! The holes are too small for cigars or cigarillos but would be about the right size for cigar “spills”, used to light cigars.

What an African Moor has to do with Central American cigar, though, I have no idea...

 

Lollipops?

 

Yes, pretty small - 4mm is just over 1/8”.

 

Cigars stuck on sticks? Gruesome, but seems to work as a countertop display. They come in a variety of sizes:

• Churchill (7.0"x50)
• Robusto (5.0"x50)
• Toro (6.0"x52)
• Torpedo (6.1"x52)

Try finding tobacciana forums?

 

My immediate reaction is some sort of counter display piece that held items for sale.

 

Hard to make out, but it’s a date - either Jan 1, 1923 or Jan 1, 1927

 

I think so, too. Too bad “Cargo” is such a common word; makes searches very difficult.

 

I agree with Bronwen, lollipop display, or some kind of pop.
If you search google images for “vintage lollipop display” there are quite a few different chalkware pieces, different brands and figures.
Don’t know if this Cargo was a pop or not.

 

Some of the rest of their products:

http://www.candywrapperarchive.com/?s=Candy Masters

Many appear to be nut-based. My favorite is Snow Wonder.

 

I had no idea how old these American candy brands are:

https://delishably.com/desserts/Candy-Favorites-from-the-1800s-through-the-1960s

 

From @Bronwen’s site.....

• Cargo (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1950s)