Cast metal Jar

Any suggestions on the origin? I thought for a moment that it could be old but that threaded part on the underside of the lid discouraged me.

 

Possibly a tobacco jar and the screw device may have held a container for a humecant?

 

The motif, is it kind of Asian/Mid Eastern or so?

 

Both the motifs and the shape could be of either Asian or European origin. My vote is for European.

 

That’s the top of the knob.

 

Looks a little like Celtic knots with animal heads.

 

It does. Or Italian Renaissance. You see it on things like Sorrento ware and Italian, Spanish, Portuguese pottery as well.

 

Could be something from the Mediterranean region. European or North Africa maybe?

 

If North African, it would be made in the regions with a large Italian community, like parts of Tunisia. I have never heard of cast metal manufacture from the Tunisian Italian communities though.
It is not North African Berber or Arab in style.