Beautiful, Spare, Two Compartment 19th Century Book Shaped Box Carved From One Piece of Wood asian-themed but really I don't think

but really I don't think these have been much used

I believe from long ago

The post holding the ball can move up and down and will come out

had a lot of knowledge about early blocks

Beautiful, Spare, Two Compartment 19th Century Book Shaped Box Carved From One Piece of Wood asian-themed but really I don't thinkA beautiful, carefully carved antique book shaped box, the quiet loveliness of which photos don't quite capture. I wish I were better at identifying woods the wood in this case a dense, straight grained hardwood of quite a beautiful ashy light brown gray. And a bit unusual opening via a flat, perfectly fitted slide lid on one side, which almost disappears when closed. With two slightly different sized interior compartments. All carved out from one