Family iron lion

This is a very heavy iron lion it has been in our family for more then 50yrs. This piece looks like if it was handcrafted the hair in the lion looks like if it was made one by one .The eyes and nose look hand craft.Their is no carve initials of any kind in this lion.
This piece used to belong to my grandfather he loved this piece ,when I was a child and I would go visit him in Mexico every summer and I would just stare at it for hrs and I felt in loved with this piece as a little girl. When my grandfather got murder I remember going into his house in Mexico and all I could do is hold this piece in my hand .A week after ,my mother came back to California and she brought me back this iron lion ,I never asked for it but I believed it fallow me back home to U.S.. I was amazed and shock when my mom brought it back to me! I felt this piece was a great important for my grandfather and he knew how much I loved it. Please help, I know it would really mean so much to me and my family the history of this Lion or it's original Origen..
Thank you so much and God bless..
Sincerely

Paloma Echave