Funky bronze or brass dragon handled oil lamp candle holder lamp base

Ha - I know throwing all those terms together doesn't sound right but they're all part of this weird little thing that I believe was the base of an electric lamp at some point.

Found similar (but wired up and on marble base)on ruby lane:

https://www.rubylane.com/item/632271-008657/Neoclassical-Ormolu-Boudoir-Aladdin-Lamp-w

Any ideas where/when this may have come from?

~

 

I would guess possibly French but I am not an expert. I had a bronze lamp minus it's wiring once that had winged cherubs and looked like a candelabra. It sold to a lovely professor at a University in a Western state that had an amazing collection of French bronze lamps who was beside himself to buy it.

 

Could it be a gas cigar lighter ?

 

Suppose that's possible - I was thinking the hole in the top of the base might have been for an on/off switch, and the hole in the side of the base for wiring. Would the holes fit in with it having been a gas lighter?

 

The first pic on this search is better quality but same idea attributed as French. https://www.google.com/search?q=ant...AUICigB&biw=1680&bih=917#imgrc=rGdfibZIob3lGM:

I think some fool like myself unwired it to stick a candle in it. I pulled the remnants of the wiring out of the one I had to use it for candles. The professor I sold it to about had a fit when I revealed that....

 

Nothing some new wiring and a little elbow grease to get the wax off wouldn't fix right? Thanks for your help - I think you're probably right about it being French.

 

Take care not to polish it. That color is far more desirable.