Bookends or not?

Hi folks
Your opinion on these brass Bookends...look like Bookends but dogs are set back not flush...could they have had another use?...

 

the way they are all dinged and chipped it looks like someone may have used them as door stops......

 

If they were bookends, the half a dog should be flush with the books? The base would make the books lean more readily.

 

We had a pair with another kind of animal here recently - they are definitely book ends.

Is all the white in the creases and crevices leftover, dried polish?

 

If they are bookends, they lack a certain level of functionality...imo...and why would the backs of the sides be screwed on like that? They seem to come apart...maybe a safe/stash of some sort?

 

Take a look at these and the discussion around them.

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/help-id-ing-amazing-pair-of-spelter-panthers.45544/#post-1466280

 

I've never seen anything screwed like that either....

 

Now that's a thought I'll look into that ....thanks

 

Yes it is so definitely been regularly cleaned but chipped on the base...I wonder as a another member suggested,been used as door stops as well? Thanks

 

Yes the raised brass screws and and not being flush seems perculiar...like the idea of a secret stash ...I'll definitely check that out ....thanks

 

i can't think of what else would chip the edges so badly or evenly like that.....certainly ..not books !!
Do you have any ideas..?

 

Well had some good replies and the French Art Deco idea has similar items not flush edged as you'd expect...I wonder if they are French Bookends but also used as doorstops at one time...but the screwed finish has me baffled ...maybe a stash area as another member mentioned

 

@daveydempsey, are those dogs cut in half?

 

That is true