Featured Does anybody know where, when, or what country this box was made in?

Hi, I'm asking for a friend who asked me and I don't know, it has a tambour lid with a material backing and the lid is opened by pressing in one of the ivory dots, there is another ivory dot that when pressed opens a secret draw at the bottom (not pictured)
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm stumped as is the owner.
I have no further info on this and the owner is in a country in different time zone so asking questions will be difficult. Sorry these are the only pictures I have.

 

Idk but the shapes on the top give me East Asian vibes

 

Aren't those simply hearts?

Debora

 

I did think Ceylon but because of the material backing on the tambour it can't be Asia because they would have interlocked each piece of wood.

 

We think they are hearts, so might have been made for a sweetheart?

 

I don't know, but I also get an East Asian vibe. The Japanese make roll-top/tambour boxes, which doesn't mean this one is also Japanese.

Maybe the type of wood is a clue.

They are only hearts when the box is opened and the two sides touch.

 

I know you don't have it, but do you know what kind of mechanism is used?

 

I think he said it was a roll mechanism, it must be because it wouldn't allow space for the secret draw.

 

I should have been more clear, I meant what is the locking mechanism behind the ivory dots.

 

I think the wood is oak and he thinks it's padauk

 

By the looks of it, you press the ivory dot and that intern releases the catch

 

So that narrows it down to either Europe, North America, Asia or Africa.

 

Thinking that whenever you contact your friend close-up pics (or 3) of the locking/latching mechanism would be most helpful.Obviously any mark is helpful,you know how microscopic these can be.

 

These are the photos of the mechanism, I'm not sure it helps

 

I've never seen one that looks so hand made....
The whole thing reminds me of tramp art..