Antique paperweight "Dog". It is used as a paper holder. Made of bronze. Europe, XX century. 

Initially, the paperweight was not so much a decorative object as a device for pressing documents lying on the table due to its weight. In the 19th century, a blotter appeared and a paperweight began to be made in the form of a crescent with a handle for convenient removal of excess ink. Now the paperweight is still used for pressing down papers, but first of all, it is an original decorative element of the table.