Interesting find in a job lot of coins

[dooly]

hi all .. i have recently won a lot of coins at my local auction rooms and i found this item in the box

 

it is about 1 inch x 1inch square with a sort of button on the reverse. the little Chinese/Japanese men on the front are made of metal and are gold, silver and copper in colour .. anyone have any ideas as to what it is ?

 

 

dooly

[MunkyMan95]

It looks like some kind of lid to maybe a jar or other small container.

[cpm9ball]

It looks like some kind of lid to maybe a jar or other small container.

 

Maybe it came from an opium den.

 

Chris

[EZ_E]

They look more Japanese to me.

[Dcoin]

The lid has the look of ivory... this may also add some value to the piece.

[EZ_E]

The lid has the look of ivory... this may also add some value to the piece.

 

Ivory or alabaster?

[just-john]

could be a stamp for printing on fabric ???silk

[WoodenJefferson]

Could very well have been a "hot wax sealer" (for letters/documents) but the images are usually incused so they become raised once imprinted into the wax...perhaps the artisan was dyslexic?