Mystery object

Bought this trinket type brass box in a charity shop. The patina on the lid is amazing, worn like a worry stone and it’s certainly old.

On the back are measurements 10 and 10, impressed in the outer. The thing that makes this a bit different to most brass boxes is that its walls are made of mesh. Together with the number markings I’m wondering if it is used to store ingredients that need to be ventilated like leaves? Any other ideas?