Chinese Brass Matchbox Holder with Dog gold charcoal black surface

charcoal black surface

or as a toothbrush holder

which I think is just there to keep it tight in absence of a washer

no chips that I can see

and everything looks good in it--though with such an elegant sculptural form

Chinese Brass Matchbox Holder with Dog gold charcoal black surfaceWhile one would expect it to be a Foo Dog that would appear on the top of a Chinese match box holder, it seems there were a whole series of these made for export in the earlyish 20th century featuring an array of different dogs as well as other animals. This little dog has floppy ears and a very sweet if a bit sad looking face, and appears to be studying the engraved decoration around the edges of the matchbox holder upon which he sits! The flip side