Very Expressive Folk Art Polychromed Carved Wood Seagull vintage black and white print or sometimes "persuader"--likely dates to

or sometimes "persuader"--likely dates to the early 19th century

notable for the painted tips of their handles

) I'd guess it might have been made as a card box (I believe two decks would fit inside)

Cigarette holder 2 1/3" tall x 2 1/2" wide x 1 1/4" deep

With some research I discovered a post about this exact tin by a German blogger and dedicated collector of repair kit boxes

Very Expressive Folk Art Polychromed Carved Wood Seagull vintage black and white print or sometimes "persuader"--likely dates toThis wonderful seagull, carved of wood and polychromed, has a familiarity about it to me, as if done by an artist whose work I have seen somewhere but can't place. It's definitely not your average seagull, I really think done by someone known, and something tells me from Nova Scotia but that's just a hunch. The painterly white head with mossy green yellow tipped beak is just glorious, and I love the way it stands balanced on tail features with wire