Featured I took a punt and bought this, what do members think?

I didn't get to do a photo before I fixed it

 

I'm not yet at the stage of throwing it away but it's missing all it's original metal wear (hinges/lock) and it does have a lot of damage. On the plus side the carving is as good as the photos and it does seem very old.

 

Yes it does. It is an interesting box.

Tagging some other people who may be able to help with an ID of the wood: @Ghopper1924 , @Drew , @Jeff Drum .

 

I do believe I have found the answer purely by accident lol. I gave up looking and continued my search for treasures on ebay and came across a box that almost certainly is from the same region and carved in the same way, the strange thing is I would have eyed up this box even if I hadn't seen the box I bought, even stranger thing is I have been a Anglo Indian box collector for over a decade and never seen this type of Northern Indian carving before. It's not exactly the same, mine is darker (dirty) and the pattern isn't the same but the similarities are too close to ignore. I'm convinced, what do you think?
Here is the link https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235343519349

 

I am not convinced it is from the same region, but it could be from the next region. It is certainly worth looking into Northern Indian boxes.

 

Probably sheesham wood. The wood of choice for carved boxes in India. Here is a more typical Indian sheeham box, showing the wood bottom.



Source:
Vintage Sheesham Handcarved Wooden Box - 4” x 6” | eBay

 

Thank you, I had not considered Sheesham (I don't know why) perhaps because it's so light in weight?

 

I did think I had it , the reason was the stippling behind the main pattern and the way the leaves are carved with a gouge out of the centre of the leaf.