Jewelry box?

looks porcelain on top and sides metal on bottom and wood on inside, any ideas on age and info beautiful coloring on animals

 

Size? Possibly a cigarette box?

 

Cigars or cigarettes, depending on size. Guessing Chinese, both for enamel work & for the appearance of creatures from their zodiac, tiger in the center, conversing with dragon.

 

Well, my guess was going to be card game box. It does say China and that confused me a bit. And then I thought of Mahjong. Also, don't know the size and who is the little guy in the tree?

 

Monkey.

 

Oh, ok then. Ha ha.

 

Chinese Champlave (sp)
I would guess time period 1930s-50s

Agree with playing card box. Canasta, bridge. Not Mahjong.

 

Not champleve, just regular ol' Canton Enamel, more than likely a cigarette box, part of a set that would probably include ashtray and matchbox sleeve. 1920's or so.

Cigarettes (not king-size etc) are nearly always the same size, so to see if something is a cigarette box, see if a standard rolling paper fits nicely.

Nice quality and looks to be undamaged, undamaged not so common.

 

Is it missing wood lining in right compartment?

 

I will measure when I get back home but guessing about 4 x 6 or 8 inch

 

I will check that out.

 

I became curious when you asked this and pulled up the satin insert to see if it was wood and lo and behold there was the smallest little necklace in there that had gotten tangled up and of course I pulled and broke it so now we know it was at least used for a jewelry box!

 

3 1/2 x 6 were the measurements

 

I doubt very much that you broke it. Could have snagged on the lining & you pulled it free. Am I seeing correctly that there is a segment detached at both ends? The ends of the original chain look intact. Is it marked? Check that flat connecting link & the clasp. Not sure it can be repaired but might have melt value.

 

I wonder whether the satin insert was added later. I did something like that with a Japanese-style lacquered box that I used to use for jewelry.

This is a lovely box! And welcome to Antiquers, @Honeydew .