Chinese or Batavian Tortoiseshell Box with Engraved Silver Mounts

This very appealing, small box is of tortoiseshell with engraved silver mounts.

The box is square and the hinged lid is domed.

The silver mounts are all in stylised cloud-form and are engraved with orchid-like flower motifs. The mounts are pinned to the tortoiseshell with small silver pins.

The original, external padlock remains (but there is no key). The padlock is of silver and is engraved in the same manner as the rest of the silver mounts.

The box and the engraved mounts are ostensibly Chinese in flavour, and the box might have been made in southern China, but equally, the stylised cloud forms of the mounts and the engraving itself has a Southeast Asian complexion and might be the product of Southeast Asian Chinese artisans.

The box is in very fine condition.