Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British antique Chinese cinnabar box With its crown of thorns

With its crown of thorns type construction

I've seen a lot of shoe- and boot-shaped old pin cushions

) Both pairs in great condition

has a bit of that about it

Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British antique Chinese cinnabar box With its crown of thornsI've had a couple of 19th century book shaped tole painted boxes holding ink wells with room for pens and letters inside; this I believe is an earlier and finer precursor to those, 18th century British I think. I purchased it at one of the shows in Nashville from a dealer who had purchased it at auction, described that way, and it is most definitely old, crafted, it appears to me, of thick, heavy brass (it is quite heavy and substantial for its size.)