Featured Small Cast Metal Lion - Antique?

I was more than excited to find this little cast metal lion with what appears to be original paint; he lost his tail along the way, though. Without the tail, he is 3 inches long and two inches tall and weighs 4 ounces. He gives me the sense of age, and when I did a google image search, I got a lot of cold cast painted bronze and iron, but nothing like this one exactly. It lacks a mark that I can find. Sorry for the lurid yellow cast on the pictures, he is really tan. Does anyone have any ideas or have you seen something like this? Any help appreciated.

 

Hey Kiko, try a magnet on your lion. If it doesn't stick it could be lead, or pot metal I guess. Britains must be a brand name of old lead toys, the seller's description says Britains or other, and I think they are referring to toymakers.
This came up first in an image search so I'm plunking it in your thread right now before I lose the link.

https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/...how_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details

 

Great link. He is not magnetic, so that rules out cast iron. But he is not hollow. He is heavy. I don't he is lead, because he is hard not soft, and his lines are still rigid. I appreciate the lead though.

 

Well, back to the old drawing board.

 

Notice his green painted eyes. He's got a lot of detail

 

I did notice his green eyes right away! I thought they were glass at first until I biggened the picture. Nice touch!

 

I only noticed when looking at the pictures a few minutes ago. I just grabbed him up in the store ($5), but they gave him to me for free because they noticed his broken tail.

 

Too bad he wasn't one of these guys -
Old Vienna Cold Painted Bronze Figure of a Small Lion, Signed Franz Bergmann For Sale at 1stDibs

Looks alike but mine has no mark that I can find.

 

It is spelter. A lead, tin, zinc mix.

 

I queried Google to see if any Bergman pieces were unmarked because mine is exactly like this marked one (minus the tail) and several places have said many of his miniatures are unmarked.
"Noted for his detailed and colorful work, Bergman was signing his creations with either a "B" in an urn-shaped cartouche, or "Nam Greb" - for "Bergman" in reverse (these marks used to disguise his identity on the erotic works). They are also often inscribed ‘Geschutzt’, which refers to the model/design being ‘registered’ or copyrighted; or not marked at all, especially if the pieces are miniatures." Source: ANIMAL COLLECTION — Ashville Fine Arts (ashvillegallery.com)
"By no means all the animal figures came from Bergman’s works, but many did and sadly, many are unmarked. Those that are marked carry a capital “B” in a vase-shaped design, the presence of which removes any doubt as to the provenance." Sources:
Miscellaneana: Cold-painted bronzes (liveauctioneers.com)
and
Bergman Dachshund - Franz Bergman Austrian Bronze - Hickmet Fine Arts