Q: I found this mystery silver figurine that looks like a Chinese Foo Dog, but I’m not certain. It has a ring with holes in it on its shoulders. It’s about 6 inches tall and the ring is 3 1/2 inches in diameter. I have no idea what it is, what it could be used for, or even if the metal is real silver. It’s marked “Christofle” in real tiny print and has the number 6 in a square box. I would appreciate any information you can find.

A: You have a silverplated toothpick holder. The figure is a gargoyle or mythical animal. The picks stick in the holes in the ring the animal is holding. Charles Christofle, jeweler, started the Maison Christofle in Paris in 1830. It is still in business in Paris. Christofle began making electroplated silver in 1842. Toothpick holders were popular in Victorian times, when many unique silver pieces were used in formal table settings. This toothpick holder was probably made in the late nineteenth century. It has been offered for sale for $400-$1,100.