What is this?! Please help!

This is a hand carved.... Something!
It stands approx. 5ft 4
It is wooden, looking like it has been painted black.
It has 3 legs which appear to have cats on them, 3 people holding boxes above the legs and 2 people at the top, one holding a round object and the other just holding its hand out. These 2 people at the top are sheltered by a ring of leaves.
The centre of this appears to be a Chinese dragon with a pearl in its mouth.
We have had it 20 years, so is older, as it was not new.
Please can anyone help us out as to what it is?