The rectangular box sitting atop a table at the auction house bore a picture of two men with guitars serenading two dark-haired women. The inscription on the picture was in a language I did not understand.
The box was made of hammered brass with one large compartment in the center, and two others on either side decorated with postcard-size images of an alluring woman and a plain building. On the top were minarets and small mounds, giving it the look of a cathedral.
I saw a photo of the box when I previewed an upcoming auction on the web, and fortunately, the auction house had given it a name. No way I would have figured it out without some help.
The box is synonymous with one foreign country, and those who use it are a pretty common sight in its cities, especially in its capital. It’s not a place I have visited, but I found many references to it when I Googled.
The box looks much too fancy for the ordinary work it is made for. What is this box? Click on the photo for the answer.
