Triple Ball in Cage Carved Whimsy with Slider early 20th century photo Buddhist and Jain mythology

Buddhist and Jain mythology

and since cicadas are symbols of  personal renewal and transformation

playing at marbles

I've been on the hunt for another of these brilliant puzzle-type boxes made to hold sewing machine attachments since finding (and immediately selling) one a few months ago--and here one is

Triple Ball in Cage Carved Whimsy with Slider early 20th century photo Buddhist and Jain mythologyBecause I can never resist a good whimsy, and this is a bit of an unusual one, with the top section looking like a little box an enclosed cage of sorts with slide lids on either side. (The sliding sides are actually part of one connected form, which moves up and down.) Three nicely carved balls in the cage below, a carved loop at top for hanging, and a nice dry wood patina to the pine. There is one carved out side at the bottom, I assume a loss but