Mystery Chinese little wood barrel

I am trying to figure out what this little barrel shaped carved wood thing is.
It is 3" tall and 2 1/4" diameter hollow. The open end is the bottom so mystery number one. There was this note stuffed inside. Mystery number two, how is this related to Chinese dolls? or is it?
Mikey

 

I think I know this! They were teeny tiny sets of clay (?) or maybe wood clothed dolls, which came in a barrel like that with a lid. I had a set.

 

Here's a couple small 4 1/2" wood & brass barrels I picked up years ago.They're both bottom-stamped 'Shanghai """""(indecipherable) Co.', the top pops off.I always thought they were little gift storage jars-for tea,dolls ? I tracked the mark down to a 30's-40's Asian gift shop in L.A. P.S.-Excuse my Kitty's tail,he wants his mornin' loves.

 

Never saw one before, but I kind of thought the carving on the outside going around seemed to resemble a sea horse.......??? To ME.....

 

Thanks Obb. They must have been tiny!

 

Fingernail sized. Lovely little things.

 

I believe it is a Dragon?
Mikey

 

Which makes better sense than my thought, Mikey!!!!