David, this really is interesting, and as Gene has noted, there seems to be a sort of mix in the motif with both Chinese as seen in the center, and the Mosque type shapes at top and bottom. This container may be for containing an amulet, written on paper and folded or rolled up and inserted.
There are a number of Muslim peoples in China, especially in the frontier areas to the west, such as the Uighurs and Hui, and I wonder if perhaps this might account for the combined styling motifs.
All the best,
Jim
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