At the time when this object was dispatched to Stuttgart, in many regions of Namibia, similar cosmetic boxes were used by women, and would often be passed down through the generations along female lines of succession, in some cases to this day. Made from the shell of a small turtle, these containers for cosmetic perfumed body powder were sometimes adorned with strings of beads made from various materials (in this case, metal) strung on leather cords. The object may have been attached to a waist belt. Text: Sandra Ferracuti.