Help please ... any ideas on small, painted box?

I picked this up today because it was cheap and a bit curious. I'm confident it's hand-painted. It's roughly 5 inches x 3.5 x 1.5 deep and presumably is wood that's been painted and varnished. (The seller thought it might be early plastic.)

The man has a curious hat, black boots and a red belt -- plus the ability to perch on the world's most uncomfortable fence. The woman seems to be wearing three bead necklaces and a garland of some sort.

I don't have high hopes or expect raptures or anything but would appreciate any thoughts as to age, origin, use ...

Thanks, stay good and well.

 

The fence is a wattle fence. Idle guess is north-central to eastern Europe - Germany, Poland - like that, and 19th century. Others may be more specific.

 

That's what I guessed, thanks moreotherstuff. I thought the hinge might help date it, and figured it was possibly old enough for a small punt. It's probably papier mache ... found a few very similar.

 

The costumes look Ukrainian to me, which used to be Russia, so Russian papier maché makes sense.

 

The damage may detract from its value quite heavily. Is it definitely hand painted? Hard to tell from the photos but if it is, it's nicely done.