Don - i have no clue what it is, but i think you should send pictures to Antiuques Roadshow! If you figure it out, let me know!

I was googling something completely unrelated-a 'kappa' shaped koro, and saw this piece on google images. Odd thing is, I have a piece of furniture quite similar in style, though different in other ways...My dragon is about 5' tall, and mounted on a base that is nearly identical. The detailing on the head-scales cheeks, etc. are very nearly the same with three feathers behind the cheek and a similar number of scales. Mine does have a spiky mane of sorts, as dragons sometimes will. From base to neck, it is lightly carved, but much straighter. Your piece is in much better condition than mine, which has lost much of its luster.

One primary difference between our pieces, is that mine is wired to be a floor lamp. It has an interesting lamp shade, made of snipped tin in the shape of water plants and animals-crabs, cattails etc. backed by oiled paper. I am able to trace ownership of this to a family that probably purchased it in the 30s-40s, no later than the early 50s.

Doing a search for a carved wooden dragon floor lamp, or words to that effect, I actually found his twin, with a fancier shade, at a Beverly Hills lamp shop, selling for nearly 1200$. I called the owner, and she said they're not too uncommon, she gets one every couple of years, and most likely date from the early 20th century, and was made in southern China for export.

Not sure if any of this helps, but I couldn't pass up commenting as the dragon head and base are obviously from the same factory/worker/craftsman/region. ....have you checked for possible wiring holes?

Enjoy your dragon thingy!