These wonderful things! With their great color combinations and especially their fantastically shaped hats and bases, they remind me think a bit of Constructivist sculpture and even more so of the costumes in Oskar Schlemmer's Bauhaus Triadisches Ballett (Triadic Ballet), but their sweet hand-drawn faces are pure folk. The bodies of most appear to be made of old tool handles, with knobs and other bits and bobs used for the hats and bases, just terrific. I'd guess they are likely German and date to the 1930s or so, but don't know for sure. 

Tallest measures 7 3/4" tall; shortest 5 7/8"t and about 1 7/8" in diameter. A little paint loss and general wear, which I think just makes them better. The one with the pink shirt and mint green lower half with come out of his base, but sticks back in fine. Otherwise all parts are tightly adhered.