Featured Any Clue What This is?

I just picked this up and I have no idea what it is. Its about 2 1/4 inches tall, looks to be hand carved. Maybe bone or ivory? Has two dragons carved on it.

 

Not sure but it looks like an incense burner.

 

I've got one like this, I don't know what mine is either lol

 

I think it's out of a antique Chinese lacquered work box

 

https://www.henrynichollsantiques.co.uk/en-GB/decorative/chinese-lacquered-sewing-box/prod_10354

 

Google Lens shows this one

but the site https://www.enghien-svv.com/en/catalog/93395?search=&offset=150& keeps on loading forever without showing anything...

 

Same result here. It just hangs. Tantalisingly close

 

That site calls it a cricket box .

 

I’ve got dice cups around that size in a gaming set I have. Carved bone. I can’t recall off the top of my head if they have lids or not. I think they did. The carved die are smaller than modern standard size.

 

It looks like a small Canton ivory cricket box to me.

 

Maybe this helps, and they also say cricket box, late 19th:

https://www.enghien-svv.com/en/lot/93395/9303126-originale-boite-a-criquet-en-i?search=&

 

Thanks, looks like a cricket box is the winner. Who knew the Chinese had crickets as pets?

 

A bunch of crickets found out the hard way! There is a cool Netflix show about Marco Polo, surprisingly called Marco Polo. One of the main characters keeps a mantis in a little cage. He is known as the “The Cricket Minister”. I’m not sure how historically accurate the show is (not very, I’m sure) but it’s incredibly entertaining. I do recommend it. It is for sure accurate that they kept crickets and praying mantis though. I had a brass cage much bigger than yours once.

 

Wikipedia apparently:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crickets_as_pets

 

That's a praying mantis, isn't it?

 

in attack mode......... yup...!
vintage Chinese..

 

I have a similar basket with a cricket on it. Totally forgot about it until you posted this.

 

musta missed this then..........

Chinese Bamboo Basket Box, praying mantis ......circa ?

 

Mine is very small, maybe punishment for a bad cricket? OR Maybe for newborn baby crickets???