HELP. WHAT IS THIS BOX\CASE?

[smadgos]

Hello guys,
I could really use some help with this one. couldn't find anything similar..
I believe the top part is solid silver while the rest is just tin or some other metal. not tested with acid yet.
What is it? What is this scene in the middle? what's with l-o-n-g pipe? :)
A-N-Y info would be appreciated. Thank you!
15cm long & 6.5cm wide (closed)

[oel]

Hi welcome to the forum,
Perhaps spectacle case double glasses(two pair thin folding glasses;sun/reading glasses) with a Erzurum Turkish man smoking his long pipe.

Old illustration of Erzurum Turkish man smoking long pipe. Original, from drawing of Duhousset, was published on L'Illustration Journal Universel, Paris, 1860

See:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-7077749 ... t-was.html

It appears the box has been tampered with; the top parts lay loose, not attached to the frame of the box, the red leather has been removed from the rims and some “infidel” cut some small pieces of the rim of the decorated top part, I assume to test the metal for silver. Personally I would not use acid, let it be and assume it to be silver, the total silver weight is of no great value, and the value is in the beautiful decoration.

Oel.