Bronze Baby Vulcan retailer Breaking Nut Match holder

This little figure has me mystified. I have done my best to look up why this little cherubic figure with a rather manly face is cracking open that walnut.

Made of bronze and standing 3 inches tall by approximately 2 1/2 inches deep, this figure of a baby Vulcan with hammer in hand, and naked except for an apron and a pair of slippers, was probably a match holder. In retailer each of his feet are screw holes that indicated he was mounted on some sort of base, maybe with a striker for matches. His little self , his mallet, chisel and walnut, were cast separately. The walnut is attached to his leg with two split studs, one of which has lost the head (as you can see in the picture I took of the inside of the walnut) The other one is holding, but the walnut does move.

I have yet to see another like this, he seems to be very unique. He could be converted quite easily into a pin cushion, with a bit of foam and a bit of velvet.