Featured Wooden box, what for and where from

Hi davey, great story and how very exciting. Hope the bats disappear quickly. Don't forget your breathing mask when cleaning up as the poo remains toxic for a long time. We have bat problems in Australian caves, abandoned structures and old farmhouses and barns. As recently as April, the Queensland State government put out a warning on a fatal bat encephalitis virus affecting bats, animals and humans, which is related to the international rabies virus. Please wear a mask.
I think you have a lacquered wooden Chinese storage box which could be used for a variety of purposes such as holding rice, tea or even lunch. It could also have been decorative for display in a house. It looks like the front latch has two holes to slide a slim lock through, so it could also have been used to store valuables. I am not sure it was built to hold anything specific, more general purpose.
I think the felt and the small chain were added much later, even recently, as the chain is still commonly available in hardware stores. I am not sure the Chinese "lined" their wooden boxes with metal, but allowed the timber to breathe. The lacquer also looks in very good condition suggesting recent application.
It sure has a lovely rich colour and looks very practical.
If this is an example of the contents of the storage unit, you are going to have a great time.

 

The inside definitely looks older than the outside. Even the metalwork doesn't look old. So..you've got me. I'd second the warning about the bats; the bats themselves are harmless barring the ones in my belfry, but the guano can be six kinds of toxic.

 

I blame the diet.

 

Davey, you can still get those Chinese locks for the box. Different sizes. They usually sell for a song on Ebay, etc.

 

They eat fruit, insects... zombies?

 

See what I mean?

 

Some zombie bats for everyone.

 

For bashing in heads?

 

Or Obliterating/Removing them......hence the barbed wired bats!!!!!!!!
YIKES!!!!!

 

Those are for the obliteration of teeth, either by pulling them out or decay.