What would this little Czech brass photo box have been used for?

Hi everyone! Picked up this little brass horseshoe shaped box at auction with a pretty lady's photograph on it. She looks Edwardian but I am assuming the box dates to at least after 1918 with the "Made in Czechoslovakia" stamp on the inside. Any ideas what it would have been used for? I can't find similar, but Google may just be betraying me today. Measures 2"L x 2"W. Thanks

 

Maybe a pill box?

 

Stamps is the first thing that comes to mind.

Debora

 

Lovely box. Is the photograph printed on paper, or something else? I see it doesn't fit well into the space. Looks like a DIY sort of project to put it in. Maybe made as a memento to remember a loved one. Or maybe it's a photo of the owner of the box. I just noticed there is an upturned horseshoe shape around the photo. That was a symbol of good luck.

 

I think there was a cabochon of some sort where the photo is.Doesnt look like a high end type of thing.

 

Forget-me-nots and a good luck symbol. A gift from a sweetheart I'd think. And, no, not an expensive item in its time but full of sentiment.

Debora

 

finally a good luck piece with the horseshoe in the proper position......
I like pill box..too..

 

The photo is on a thick paper, almost card. Yes definitely looks like a DIY project!

 

I second that. So many upside down horseshoes... bad luck, lets all the good luck fall out. I am superstitious??? Yes sir.

 

Oh yes, a pretty Czech glass cabochon would have been very nice!

 

still could be...trash the photo....find a gem !!

 

Trash the photo, that gave me a giggle .

 

As if! There seems to be a prong missing. I'd bet whatever was in there originally fell out. Somebody put an old picture of the wife/mom/bestie into the space. The photo has been there longer than the original piece of glass was by this time. I'd say leave her there. Stamp box for me too. The box wasn't carried in a pocket or the photo would have a lot of wear on it. Maybe it held hard candies originally and was reused for stamps. It's not even close to air-tight and wasn't originally, so no good for pills. Wouldn't be the first time one of these small boxes got repurposed; people didn't throw stuff out like we do.

 

Ain't that th' truth!

 

Thanks for your feedback and info as always everyone! I think I will leave her in place, I like the sentimentality