Clenched Fist, Antique Bronze Paperweight antique noisemaker with crank art With threaded end

With threaded end

where it looks that the name of its maker was lost at some point at lower right

with a nice weight for its size

so think I've mitigated it well

which I think rather transcends its original function to read almost like a text piece by Jenny Holzer

Clenched Fist, Antique Bronze Paperweight antique noisemaker with crank art With threaded endHard to resist a good hand, and this one, bronze, has a great presence and weight and resolve to it; no fuss, just right. The image of a hand gripping a scroll or bar was a common one during the Victorian era generally associated with ideas of fortitude and resilience, but also I believe more specifically with pro freedom and or anti slavery movements, symbolizing the strength required to "break chains" or "uphold liberty." I have not dug deep into