Hey! the person who was trying to identify the brass item from their grandmother's collection-
what looked like an Art Nouveau mermaid handle for something -
did you ever find out what it is?
= new reply since forum marked as read
It is not a heavy tool - there are no scratches and it wouldn't take any twisting or bending force without cracking.
It is not a kitchen implement.
It is not a letter opener - there is no blade.
It's not a candle snuffer - wrong shape.
It is not a necessity, but it isn't very expensive - the detail is good but not great, so it's not one of a kind.
the Art Nouveau design suggests it dates from 1890 to 1910
It is complete in and of itself - there are no indications of missing pieces such as rivet holes and the ornate finish would indicate it's not part of a larger object.
It is too large and heavy to be worn as jewelry.
It is meant to be seen from both sides.
The hands aren't shaped to hold something else such as a mirror.
So all that puts it into the category of an object that sees light duty, could have been used in a middle class home, may or may not be in use today in another form.
I'm guessing it belongs on a dresser, a desk or in a sewing basket.
Unless someone comes up with a better ID, I think it's an elaborate paper weight. 
With the mermaid motif, I wonder if it belonged to a ship Captain? Cool to think about.....
Back in the day, rugs were hung on a clothesline and beat with an implement to whack out the dust they collected.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/154292114/victorian-style-bdsm-rug-beater-paddle?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=rug+beaters&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
The example shown in the original post is a rather ornate (and not particularly efficient) variation.
That's Father Guido Sarducci's blessing of the fleet thingy. He's been known to whip up a wicked Ramos Gin Fizz with that thing after the fleet has passed.
