An unfired-clay nodding figure of a Chinaman from the Royal Pavilion, Brighton (belonging to the Royal Collections), probably early 19th century, was left in many pieces after an act of vandalism. . Paraloid B72 was used for bonding and, in combination with microballoons, for filling. The damage afforded a rare opportunity to investigate the process of manufacture and the origins of this example of a type of figure of which relatively little is known. Tests and analyses were undertaken to help shed light on these matters. The clay was shown to be a common kaolin; the paper to contain bamboo and hemp fibres; and an original wooden dowel to be of woody stem bamboo, Bambusaceae. Of these materials only the paper is conclusively indicative of the oriental origin.