Old Cast Iron Dog on Heavy Iron Base lunch box but I'm not entirely sure

but I'm not entirely sure

Definitely they have some age

I believe these date to the Civil War era

The slate itself is in good writing condition on both sides

14" across with handles

Old Cast Iron Dog on Heavy Iron Base lunch box but I'm not entirely sureI think of this more as a door stop than a paperweight (which is how the dealer I purchased it from described it) weighing in at 3 1 2 pounds, it seems a bit of overkill for holding down a stack of papers, though this pup (a retriever, or a setter?) certainly looks fetching perched atop a pile. Late 19th century I would guess, it shows all of those years, with much of the dog's creamy brown paint worn away, along, it seems, with a piece of his jowl!