Triple Ball in Cage Carved Whimsy with Slider early 20th century photo still in their labeled pockets

still in their labeled  pockets

and since cicadas are symbols of  personal renewal and transformation

Buddhist and Jain mythology

with a few small scrapes to the orange lacquer on the exterior and one crack to the black lacquer at the edge of one interior tray (see detailed photos)

I've been on the hunt for another of these brilliant puzzle-type boxes made to hold sewing machine attachments since finding (and immediately selling) one a few months ago--and here one is

Triple Ball in Cage Carved Whimsy with Slider early 20th century photo still in their labeled pocketsBecause I can never resist a good whimsy, and this is a bit of an unusual one, with the top section looking like a little box an enclosed cage of sorts with slide lids on either side. (The sliding sides are actually part of one connected form, which moves up and down.) Three nicely carved balls in the cage below, a carved loop at top for hanging, and a nice dry wood patina to the pine. There is one carved out side at the bottom, I assume a loss but