with rectangular sliding lid, the interior divided into four compartments with bands of geometric inlay and red and green colouring, the exterior and part of interior decorated in green-dyed bone taracea, with various types of wood in a mosaic design  

Some general wear to wood with sections of ivory/bone and wood inlay missing, encrustation particularly visible to interior, small sections of wood extremities missing, interior of lid with remnants of inscription, possibly a name, underside with remnants of a reddish/brown material, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This box, with a sliding lid and divided into various compartments, was most probably used to store weights, although similar examples have also been said to hold writing utensils. The origin of this model can be traced back to ninth/tenth-century Egypt, as demonstrated by an example in the Louvre Museum, Paris (inv. no.MAO 324), described as a "money changer's scale box". The taracea technique was favoured in Spain (the dyed bone and wood sections are applied to the surface as mosaics), and a casket using this type of decoration, attributed to Granada fifteenth century, is in the Al-Sabah collection, Kuwait (Riyadh 1985, p.201, no.176). The interior is reminiscent of an ivory sculpted box attributed to Sicily or Al-Andalus, circa twelfth century, in the Museo de la Catedral-Basilica de San Martin de Ourense, inv. no.OR-CAT-MUS 425 (Alhambra 2013-14, p.192, cat.155). Another close example, said to have held the writing utensils of 'hl Leopold', (possibly Leopold III, 1073-1136 AD), is illustrated in Berlin 1989, p.198, nos.220 and 221. For geometric square tesserae, see a pyxis in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan, Madrid, inv.4867 (Alhambra 2013-14, p.193, cat.158).