Chinese Flexible Silver Fish Pill Box

Do you think it is Chinese? About 7" long. No marks found and I am not planning to clean it at all. Could it be solid silver?
19th century?
Thanks

 

I saw some in the 70s & 80s. They weren't used for pills.

 

Hi,
It is a real beauty. I love the way the eyes are set with light coming through, not just bezel set. It is articulated and nicely done. It maybe solid silver but perhaps with a lower grade than sterling. I really covet this piece. I am thinking 50s but might be older. Though 50s stuff usually say China and or solid silver. Perhaps it was not made for export and just traveled here.
greg

 

And was re-purposed in the 70s.

 

It did travelled here. I got it from a consignment store. They had some old man things that he brought from his trips all over.
I found another one but a bit different
http://richardgardnerantiques.co.uk/product/5437/CHINESE+ARTICULATED+SILVER+FISH

 

what do you think it was used for?

 

Roaches. Trust me on this.

 

This one looks like yours,but the site is no longer.

 

Hi,
The one on your site is more finely done and most likely 19th century. I am getting a newer vibe on yours in hand. It is nicely done but not the same same as the older one. If it were newer 70s/80s the eyes would not have the opening in the back and just bezel set.
greg

 

Hi,
In the 70s EVERYTHING was used to store roaches. I had a friend who used her grandmother. They were returning from Europe and in line for customs. My friend noticed that the inspector in the line they were standing in kept looking in her direction. She became very paranoid. She quickly slid her Altoids box into her grandmothers coat pocket while she telling her she was going to get a drink. Grandma says nonsense you can not get out of line. So she stayed and kept looking at the inspector looking at her. She was pratically peeing her pants. The inspector passed the grandma with hardly a glance. The poor girl had everything opened and touched and squeezed. After 15 mins she was let go. The inspector whispered to her, "I saw you keep looking at me and wetting your lips, I get off in 30 mins if you want to meet."
greg

 

Who saved roaches ?!? Id smoke those suckers down to a millimeter !

 

Did you see this one? Sold for somewhere between $499 and $67 LOL. Anyway they say it's Spanish and is hallmarked, it looks like it's on the edge of the fin maybe. Just thought you might want to double check for marks.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Art...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

I think they are neither Chinese nor Spanish but Judaica besamim boxes. Not necessarely made in Israel. I am finding some claimed to be Dutch, Russian and other countries of origin.

 

By Googling "silver fish pill container" and clicking on "images" in the upper left, you can see many of them.

http://search.comcast.net/?cat=imag...num=20&safe=on&q=silver+fish+pill+container/0

 

I know someone in the 70s who used them to store hash. Just sayin'. They were pretty common during that era.