Metal lion wall hanging, newer. Chinese? Did this have another purpose?

Not thinking this has much age, maybe 40 years or as recent as last week. Approx 7" across, some kind of very light weight metal. Was a thrift purchase. Possible it is missing some hanging pieces are there are a bunch of loops along the bottom with nothing on them.

Wondered if anyone had seen similar. I would have just thought "wall hanging" but there is a latch of sorts in the back, see 2nd photo off to the left. Didn't know what the latch might have been for.

Guessing this animal is a lion --whatever he is, his tongue seems to be sticking out.

Thanks for taking a look.

 

Foo Dog for protection I think

or maybe for luck. Not sure will have to double check

 

Thanks, Cluttered! Protection or luck, both good! Thank you.

Any thoughts on what the latch in the back might be for? And Foo Dog, of course!

 

Does the "latch" actually move?
Looks like the way they attached his tongue.

I looked up Foo Dog on wiki. The Chinese call them Guardian Lions, we in the west call them Foo Dogs. They are usually in pairs. Male and Female.
Male guards the structure, Female guards the home
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions

 

It's not a "latch",it holds the tongue and the dangles.

 

it's missing all the dangles from the feet....
I think it's a door chime...

 

Thanks for all the responses. Ah, I see now that what I was calling a latch is part of the tongue --good point! I wonder if it was a mechanism that used to move at one time? Otherwise why have the metal of the tongue extend so far behind the piece? It sort of loops around in the back even. Interesting!

Could be a door chime, would love to find similar online just to get a sense of age, etc. If anyone has additional thoughts, please post. Thanks!

 

Maybe a wind chime,missing rods which connected to lower rings.

 

It came with a very long silk thread --should have added that photo.

 

Looks like tribal Southern China and adjoining area, tribes like the Miao.