Featured Hand carved box on chain. What do you think it is?

Found this listed locally cheap and it looked interesting. Kind of has a tramp art look. Woodshop/garage project or something with a little more age? Inside lid pretty clean but could have stayed that way over time unexposed I guess. Homemade mailbox? Any ideas?

 

Grease box for old wagon wheels,etc. there are several threads about them here someplace.

Here is one...... https://www.antiquers.com/threads/help-id-this-please.35220/

 

Wam bam thank you mam, you got it! Either never used for grease or a more modern tribute? Certainly appears to never have houses any grease. Maybe made for that but they used it for something else? Now I have to decide if I should buy it or save the space.

Edit: Oh well sold since I posted this so I guess I don’t have to decide anymore.

 

I can't say for sure, but when I saw it I immediately thought covered wagon item. I was a curator for many years at the Southern Oregon Historical Society and we have a large collection of Oregon/ Applegate Trail artifacts. Nothing pops up in their on-line search. Couldn't be a skid shoe, but if it was used for grease there should definitely be residue. Sure looks like the right form from the limited on-line images. I expect with the challenging environment , weight restrictions and limited ability to carry precious equipment, everything served a dual purpose.

 

Definitely the right shake you’re right! Thanks

Edit: sounds like you must have a had a pretty neat collection there!