Chinese metal box thing of some kind

I'm at a loss here. What is it?

It's broken that much I can tell.
It has a tiny monkey on the very top.
It has a stamp on the box part and the cylinder part. Metal appears to be pewter or something.

 

Would the broken off spout reach up to the hole on the top if it were attached to the hole in the cylinder?

 

I'm pretty sure that's how it's supposed to be, but the cylinder sits too low and the spout doesn't reaxh.
But if the spout top was attached to the top of the box then it would work.

 

So the overall intent (leaving space around the cylinder on all sides and bottom) was probably to keep some liquid hot or cold.

 

That makes sense. Neat, I guess the Chinese invented the Thermos

 

Do all of the sides have that same painted woman on them?

 

With small variations in style all four sides have the same woman in the same pose.

 

Maybe that red/orange container on her back is for food.

 

Here is a similar one but I like yours more

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chinese-Pewter-Teapot-Hexagon-Turtle-Finial-/192129059142

 

Great, so that's how it goes back together. I'll have to try to fix it one of these days.

 

The inside of the carrying case was lined with insulating materiel,don't remember the key words for it though.

 

Kapok maybe? That's a total WAG, but it almost has to be something organic that could be easily pitched and replaced at need.

 

Cool piece ! Did the Chinese hallmark pewter like that ?

 

Kapok comes from a Kapok tree's seed pods and great for pillows.
Wouid the same word be used in China for this...
Seems so.

 

Maybe metal is paktong, a zinc, copper and nickel alloy