Small Blue Tray On Stand

[kardinalisimo]

What is this called and used for? To hold candle maybe? Also, what is that creature? To me it does not look like a deer, neither like a qilin.
Not sure if the piece is Chinese although some of the the motifs are. Mixed feelings about  the blue colors. Older, recent?
Thanks

[Stan]

I have never seen anything like this, at first I thought it was a stand then looking at the top looks more like a dish, what is the size of it.

[kardinalisimo]

So, I guess it is not Chinese?
It is small, about 2 1/4" tall and 2 1/2" wide.

[Stan]

Im leaning towards Japanese, could it be an ashtray? its to small for a dish.

[peterp]

Are the measurements posted right?  If yes, it is a miniature... search for "Japanese offering stand".