Featured Does anybody know what the divisions in this box was for?

I know this box isn't after 1850 and I suspect it might be early 1800, Persian, 150mm in length. I've never seen velvet divisions with padding in the edges like this and haven't a clue what was in it. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Best photos I can do as I haven't yet got it.

 

Gaming tokens?

 

Maybe? but seems rather padded for just gaming tokens. The truth is I'm completely in the dark. I did think maybe glass photo plates or glass lenses? I really don't know, I was hoping someone would say "I know exactly what that is" so I could type it in and find other likewise boxes.

 

Antique After Eight's lol

 

I think it's a vintage micro mosaic box for restoration

 

Dimensions of the recesses may be helpful clues, once you have it in hand.

 

Lol. Vintage

 

I can't see the divisions being more than 5mm by 4cm x 2cm?

 

Microscope slides?

 

Yeah I did think of this as well and the size it right but when were the first microscope slides? This box is early and would the velvet rub on the specimen?

 

https://www.cnascientific.com/ultimate-guide-to-microscope-slides
"Slides date back to the Victorian England era of the early 1800s. The first know slides were simply pieces of bone, ivory or even wood. The specimens were mounted on top of the bone or ivory for observation. Later, the slides were placed on two pieces of mica to better transmit light. In the late 1800s, the first glass microscope slide was introduced."

 

Looking

This could well be what it is, looking at it again do you think these are just marks left on the velvet from something like slides or are there divisions?

 

Rave-It's got the telltale geometric micro-mosaics you told us to look for,nice !

 

I may have just seen it as divisions but it maybe just marks in the velvet.

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/l...y-khatam-kari-what-to-look-for-and-why.53658/
Yup, that's why I bought it, it's early Khatam

 

I also see it as divisions. But I might be imagining things, as it's 5 am here... Time for me to go to bed...

 

Beautiful piece. Just curious when you receive it if those hinges are original or replaced. Difficult to tell from their photos. I have several old boxes some handmade hinges and some machine made. Machine made started in the 19th and easy to identify but will also show age.

 

Now that is what I call dedication to the forum.

 

Lol, it was 4am for me, well past my bedtime.

 

This morning it took some time before I stopped hitting the snooze button I think I got out of bed one hour after the alarm went off for the fist time