Brass box from India

Does anyone know anything about this box? Looking at the design I believe it comes from India. I think it is made of brass. There is a wooden box inside the metal box. My mother used it to store less valuable jewelry and I think I have seen it for at least two decades. Was it new when she got it or is it an antique? I'd be very grateful if anyone could help me figure out what I have. (all pictures are stored at a Swedish photo storage site)

 

The wood lining leads me to believe that it was designed for tobacco - cigarettes or cigars (depending in the size). Other than that I can't help.

 

Looks like a cigarette box in brass instead of silver. Always cedar wood lined. Up till the later part of the 20th C cigarettes were typically shorter than they are today, the usual front to back depth is just over 3 inches.

 

Thanks for the answers. I think you are both correct. I just checked the depth front to back and it is slightly longer than 3 inches. I also checked what this kind of item is worth on online auctions. Well, nobody knows since they seem to never sell. At least I now know what I have. Thanks a million!

 

The palm tree and tent look more North African or Arabian area to me

 

Most definitely a cigarette box. I've seen enough of these in brass and silver to know one when I see it.

I have seen silver ones on sale for two or three hundred bucks apiece, depending on condition. Brass ones tend to sell, from what I've seen, for under $100.

 

Designs are nicely acid-etched into the brass, something that may be a selling point. I don't see many examples of that process in this type item, but then I don't go looking for these. That process may help date it, too but I don't know when acid etching of such items was popular. I think it gives a surface more interesting than say one that was just hammered or chased; if you didn't look closely, you may not have noticed it has 3D imagery.

 

Thanks for the answers. Terry: I thought this box was Indian as soon as I saw it but I guess it could be Arabian or North African too. To me it looks like the person on the lid is wearing a turban which I always connect with India but I guess you are right - this could be something from the muslim world too.
springfld.arsenal - you are right. I didn't look close enough to notice that 3D effect. I just had a closer look and I get a feeling the box might be quite old. Still - finding someone who appreciates cigarette boxes might not be all that easy. Shangas has seen boxes like mine selling for close to 100 bucks. I thought I had a 10 dollar piece here so that's good news. I wish I had more information.

 

Shangas is in Australia. Antiques prices seem very high there.

 

Most of them are, unfortunately. But I never said CLOSE to 100. I said below 100. It could be $25. There's one at my local antique shop on sale for like $40.

 

Many of these are and were made in India for export to the Middle East, so a camel or whatever isn't surprising. I see these a great deal for a few pounds.

 

Sorry Shangas, I didn't read your earlier post carefully enough. I think my box is one of those semi-antiques that is great value for the money since hardly anyone wants one and because of that prices are low. Now, I'll have to figure out what to do with it.