Help with skyrim combination

There are three runed tablets in the room - you can see one of them which has fallen by the lever at the right of your screenshot, the snake. The other two are above the portcullis.

Duplicate the pattern on those tablets by rotating the pillars, and pulling the level will cause the gate to open (instead of rain painful death on you).

Most of the Claws lose their quest item status (if they ever have it at all) when you complete their respective dungeon's quest.

If you choose to re-steal the Golden Claw, for instance, it will be a normal (albeit stolen) item that can be pawned off to a fence for quick cash.

Collectors might be inclined to display them in their house - there's at least 3 more claws out there in Skyrim, but at the end of the day, they're just loot. And what you do with your loot is your prerogative!