Featured SMALL HANDMADE CHINESE (?) BONE GAME BOX- WHAT IS IT???

OK, have had this for some time.....and had forgotten I even had it except another post triggered the memory!!!! I assume it was something Mom had picked up possibly at an auction, but who knows!!! It appears to be made of bone....the figures on the top I believe appear Chinese....has some sort of miniature game inside with one sort of "top" (?)....to me it's fascinating....but I'd love to know JUST what it is!!!! And WHAT KIND OF BONE.....whale???? The two sliding lids fit snugly into two separate grooves on/in the top as you should see! To me, it obviously has some good age and wear to it, but that's the extent of my knowledge about it....other than what I can show you!!!! Thank you ALL in ADVANCE, as ALWAYS for your input and expert advice and opinions!!!!

DIMENSIONS are:
LENGTH....2 11/16" less the lids tabs
LG TAB.....5/8"
SM TAB....5/16"
HEIGHT...1"
WIDTH....1 1/8" so, I have 10 images, and in case they get mixed up, they're numbered, not that that matters!!!

 

Maybe you could call on @aisianfever (corrected)
Very pretty!

 

@Asian Fever would you know anything about this item of mine????? Thanks!!!!!

 

Aren't those dominos and dice?

 

I'm hoping you meant @Asian Fever !!!!

 

Oooops! I did wrong.
Sorry Asian fever!

 

Very tiny, but yes they are @say_it_slowly .....the ones that are "five" in the little separate space are like half dominoes......so, yes, guess they would be called dice!!

 

I can take the dominoes out, but they are a PITA to put back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT will if asked...........

 

There are a fair number of listings with these called prisoner of war game boxes. Those figures look colonial to me.

Some fancy ones
https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2838M/lots/241

 

THAT'S why I LOVE this site!!!!!! SO MANY EYES to find SOMETHING!!!!!! WOW!!!! THANK YOU S-I-S, for finding them!!!! I LOVE what they sold for too!!! I think mine are quite a bit more primitive than what's shown!!!! Will do more research now!!!!

 

@say_it_slowly, because of your link, I also came across info on POW little "Spinning Jenny" carvings!!!! Happen to have one of those too, which I will post sometime later when I get the images ready!!! I AM pumped!!!! At least EXCITED to finally find some info on these little gems!!!! The Jenny has some damage, which I am NOT going to touch!!! I saw one sold for $2,440, without one arm!!!! Some of the carving on her is SIMILAR to the furthest to the RIGHT game box you posted!!!! THAT'S what got me going on her!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN!!!!!
Sue

 

It's so exciting to see such cool stuff! Lucky you!

 

That's the 1st thing i thought of upon seeing Aquitaine's fine photo's !!

 

It makes sense that not every prisoner was a master carver, and not every prison had the best materials.......but yours gets an A for effort.....& bonus points for the painting !!!!

 

The second thing I thought of. The first was: I must be missing something, Chinese?

 

Your photos are wonderful Aquitaine they show all the details on this sweet little set!

 

Aww, geee, thanks!

 

It is made of some kind of bone, not ivory of any type. Probably some large bovine, like water buffalo.

 

I always heard they used cow bones from soup and other food. Any materials they could find. I doubt those prisoners of war had access to something as exotic as water buffalo bone. There wasn't much food as it was, and many prisoners died of malnutrition and disease. Selling their crafts gave them some income to buy food and whatever else they needed.