Fantastic HUGE Sculptural Antique Chip Carved Tramp Art Box handmade wooden toy boat which makes me think perhaps

which makes me think perhaps the box was made to hold a rosary

Based on the context in which I found it

I believe it dates to the 1940s

it might peel off with a little effort but I did not want to mess with it and it more or less disappears) and a little spotting to the surface on the left bottom corner of the vase

The text appears to read:  Who first comes to this world below

Fantastic HUGE Sculptural Antique Chip Carved Tramp Art Box handmade wooden toy boat which makes me think perhapsWow wow wow. I found this one in New Hampshire near the Vermont border, spotted through the window of an antiques shop a few weeks ago that is only open Saturdays, so I went back yesterday to grab it, and gently heft it to my car! I've since done just a tiny bit of touch up with a black Sharpie not to repair real damage, but just to blend a few tiny spots where a little minor bumping had taken off the finish. It is quite a stunning thing to behold