19th Century Miniature Carved Boot Shaped Box antique kindergarten exercise though I am not entirely

though I am not entirely sure

Perhaps they were background characters in an elaborate puppet show

which a mix of gold

Not my expertise

or perhaps could be put to use in a new way

19th Century Miniature Carved Boot Shaped Box antique kindergarten exercise though I am not entirelyI took this for an antique carved snuff box boot, but when I got it home and opened it up, realized it was made as a trick box, with what looks to have been a snake inside that would pop its head up when one slid the lid open. Sadly, both ends of the snake were broken at some point; the remaining fragment remains, held by pins inside that attach to either side of the boot. Sad that it is lost, but a great little carved boot still, 19th c. and