Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base medieval box I have not attempted to

I have not attempted to polish the brass

13 1/4" long x 3 3/4" wide x 5/8" deep

and as jumping off points for more  improvisatory creative play

I'd put something very special inside of it

It is quite beautifully made

Antique Carved, Painted Wooden Chinese Figure on Base medieval box I have not attempted toBased on a few other carvings out there of a very similar ilk, I am pretty certain this one is Chinese, likely depicting a scholar, with what seems most likely to be a scroll held in hand. I think it is quite an exquisite little thing, which feels rather ancient but I think most likely 19th century, and which appears to have been finely carved from one piece of wood, then hand painted, now showing primarily a combination of soft gray and gold. At some