Question from Sweden

Hello
I would like your help to understand what this is. Is it a Tea caddy. I tried To find information online but all the ones I found have two or three sections. Mine has only one. If it’s not a tea caddy, do you know what it is? How old do you think it is and do you think it is English as it doesn’t look Swedish?
It has glass sides on the inside.
Grateful for all advice.

with kind regards Petra

 

The lock doesn't look English. If not Swedish then maybe it's German. I can't really see much, but looks like a one-off provincial box. Too crude for tea, maybe for tobacco or something else altogether. The sides seem nailed rather than joined, so probably modern, Art Deco-ish by the lid.

 

Yes, it does look like a tea caddy. Single compartment caddies are not as numerous as twins, but they are around in decent numbers. It doesn't look particularly English though, the lock style is typical of late 19th/early 20th century production. The glass lining to the sides is also not something usually seen on English boxes. The wood looks like it might be a type of rosewood.

 

maybe a cigar box.......

 

Tea caddies that I have handled contain fitted interiors usually for the tea with a center mixing bowl.