Bronze Chinese? Dog Paperweight?

Researching for my favorite consignor again... This is a nice little (2-3/8" x 2-1/4" x 1-3/8" high) bronze dog, curled up. This little guy weighs 3/4 lb.
There is a stamp on the back of the piece. Bottom is hollow, open.
Any info as to age, origin, use, or whatever, is welcomed!

 

I'll be no help but I like it very much, whatever age, use, origin. I did speculate
- small , no proper handle as such so a bit awkward to pick up. Not an inkwell or an ashtray or a seal. Perhaps a weight of some sort - paperweight / opium weight? Along those lines. Perhaps something just for decoration. The mark or seal on the side is impressive. I'll watch this thread with interest.

 

I do see a resemblance to this SCROLL WEIGHT:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Chinese-Gilt-Bronze-scroll-weight-of-a-Foo-Dog-19th-century-RARE-QING-/332905259809
What sayest y'all?

 

A pic if the underside/ bottom would be helpful.

 

Here ya go:

 

Similar:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Old-C...08d0408:g:eh8AAOSws99cAty3#vi__app-cvip-panel

Although the one in the link genuinly looks older than yours and better done. Perhaps yours was the lid to something at sometime or maybe not... just some musings from someone who doesn't really know. Again in my very amateur guess something about the patina on the top of yours looks perhaps applied and not genuine... especially compared to the bottom. Please take everything I say with a huge grain of salt though and wait for others who know what they're talking about.

 

One thing to take note of on the Ebay link you posted as well as the one I posted is that the underside of both of them are sculpted in detail, whereas yours has file marks on the base and is open.

 

Yep, I also noticed that most similar items had a solid bottom, but I also saw a few on various sites with open bottom.

 

I kind of think it looks like a small Foo dog that hopped off his perch and curled up, but I also can't find anything that looks like that!!!! It's nifty!!!!!

 

Just wondering: is the part I've circled just a bit of the top part "hanging over" the side, or is it part of a hinge or some other type of connector that might hint again at its use as a lid?

 

It's the maker's mark.

 

Ah, okay. Thanks, Holly.

 

It is very nice, but I think it was modeled after a genuine scroll weight.
It was artificially patinated and aged (fake verdigris), but it looks like that could have been done some time ago. Maybe mid 20th century?

That lucky three-legged toad is beautiful, but brand new. I like the constellation on its back.
I really love your old year-new year avatar, btw.

 

I think the eBay is playing fast and loose with links to completed items again. I see the toad too but it isnt what I was attempting to link to...let's try again...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Old-C...sid=p2349624.m43663.l10137#vi__app-cvip-panel

And...thank you

 

I'm inclined to agree - and with an interesting mark added for effect...

 

Yes! Worked ok this time! And much nicer!

 

Chinese, scholar table object, used as a paper weight, to hold paper down when doing calligraphy or painting, and also to hold horizontal scrolls open. From the look of it, could be a recent copy, but also 50-100 years old or so, maybe even 120. (I have some similar pieces about that age. Nice, nevertheless, even if a copy/reproduction; some copies are pretty ugly.