Featured Chinese Stacking boxes, Dowry chest?

Found this today for a song. It is five layers with lid. Rattan? has silver designs on both sides. Shosw age and has some little damage. Just wondering how old it could be.
14" tall including handle and 7" wide.
Mikey

 

Picnic basket. Each box contains food.

 

Smaller ones are used as lunchboxes, and are typically called tiffin carriers...

 

Funny, I thought it was like this. Looks exactly the same
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303992208818?hash=item46c758fdb2:g:~j8AAOSwLFdgmO~C

 

Maybe it depends on the size? I've only ever known stacking cases like this to hold FOOD. That's what they've been used for, for centuries.

 

You can find many examples of such stacked baskets using the term "Chinese wedding basket". They were traditionally used for gifts of food and other items given to the bride. Usually woven of finely split bamboo. They are still being made, so dating may be problematic, but the metal fitting may be an important detail for someone who knows more. Is the side of the handle carved or otherwise decorated?

 

Yes the sides are carved. And it's bamboo I'm pretty sure.

 

@2manybooks here is the siide carvings. and love the top too.

 

Sorry, I see you had included other detail views in your initial post that must not have loaded in my view.

It is a nice basket, but I don't know enough about this type to say much more. Perhaps @Any Jewelry or @Ce BCA could take a look?

 

Thanks. My fb group says lunch box. So @Shangas is correct.

 

Yes, these appear to be traditional gifts at weddings, and they would contain food. The wedding ones are usually far too big for being practical as a day to day lunch box. This one looks to be varnished which would suggest it's likely post war (but could have been done later too). I'm thinking same period as these boxes..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184559264575?hash=item2af896e33f:g:41cAAOSw9BBfxELa

These are relatively frequently seen and date to the late 50's to the early 70's

 

Hi,
I remember seeing these in Chinatown in Manhattan in the 1970s. Every shop had different items, it was so magical back then.
greg

 

The Turkish have a similar one done with copper to be taken to the fields for shepherds. Could be put over fires.

 

It's a perfect lunch basket for two. Two containers for me and three for the dog.