Featured Identify marks on mystery box

This box was given to my mother in the early 1900s. She saw it in her music teacher's house, a Russian immigrant musician in Denver, CO and asked for it. He (Alpheous Elder) gave it to her.
It has a padded tapestry interior and these embedded cabochon red and blue stones (glass?).
I think the box is brass.
I've always thought it was Chinese, but I don't know for sure.

 

Marian, I've taken the liberty of reposting your photographs as Full Image instead of Thumbnail so they're easier for everyone to see. You'll want to remember to do that in the future.

Debora

 

It's Art Nouveau with Arabic numerals on the bottom. Unlikely to be Chinese.

Debora

 

Arts and Crafts movement.

 

By way, according to the internet, it's "Alpheus." He opened his studio in his home on Brixton Terrace in 1910 so that's the earliest date you mother could have received it.

Debora

 

Thank you for the correction.

Debora

 

Alpheus Elder was born in Illinois as were both his parents. That makes a your mother's box having a Russian connection more unlikely.

Debora

 

The lock is continental, probably French

 

Pretty little thing; can see what a young girl would covet it. Would that be a glove box because of the shape? Similar to this French box by Alfred Daguet. Embossed brass with inlaid glass cabochons. The mark on yours isn't his signature though.

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...ss-cabochons-box/id-f_36982542/#zoomModalOpen

Debora

 

https://1930.fr/arts-craft-art-nouveau-casket.html

similar in style ??????

 

Would/could you post a photograph of the entire bottom please along with good quality photographs of any and all marks?

Debora

 

Thank you.

 

I'll try.

 

All we can ask.

Debora

 

Thank you. Probably a misconception on my mother's part. Her father was the Concertmaster of the Denver Symphony and he and a lot of friends had come over from Russia together.

 

Family stories often get garbled. Not at all unusual.

Debora

 

I would say they are by the same hand, nice work

 

There are others "in the style of" which is why comparing marks would be helpful.

Debora

 

Ok -- here is the entire bottom. I see no mark except for that in the corner, which I've posted by itself.