If it was a tea infuser, where would the tea go and how would the tea diffuse to the water? Looks odd for a tea infuser. I like Tales description of a prayer message holder or jewelry. Maybe a secret message holder to slip notes past Chinese officials.
Hmmm...here is something similar from Worthpoint.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/intricately-designed-antique-chinese-needle-case-wANTIQUE CHINESE NEEDLE CASE
PURCHASED IN CHINA
Up for auction is one of many listings coming your way from a seller that spent her long life traveling around the world. She now has started to scale down her belongings to move into a smaller home. You will be impressed with the quality and variety of her collection!
This listing features an intricately designed silver metal needle case used by the Chinese craftsmen & women who sewed the extremely small embroidery in the past. (NOTE: we will be listing some of that same, unbelieveably small embroidery pieces in the near future)
The outer case is in the design of an urn with pierced sides: one side has what appears to be a deer, pelican & bird or bee; the other appears to have three long-necked birds, perhaps cranes.
The base of the urn pulls down to reveal a 1-3/4" needle receptacle attached to a double chain that is pulled upward to close the case.
T are two rings on either side of the urn to attach cords that can be worn around the waist as a belt. At the top of the chain is a type of fob that most likely was slid over the sash to keep it secure. (Note: the seller had attached a silk cord to the fob as she also saw needle cases worn around the neck as a pendant)
The pull to open the case is attached to an orange/red semi-precious aventurine ball.
Measurements: Urn is 2-1/4" in length and 1-1/8" in width; overall length of piece from fob to pull is approximately 6-1/2" long
