You are so funny!!! Bet your wife laughs a lot .... or maybe not! But that new find is definitely you. Nice that she bought it for you. I have a wooden box that my Dad made that opens up to show an Icon inside. It hangs on our wall. He did not make the Icon but he did put gold leaf on the box. Your new gift reminded me of that so I am guessing that it is related.[/quote]
We keep each other amused. We both have a wicked sense of humor.
I think those things, like your Dad made, and this one, started out as Portable Altars. They then evolved into what I acquired, which is of a secular nature. But many cultures had the "miniatures in a box" art form. But the Latin American culture took it to a whole new level.
John