Italian Pietra Dura Playing Cards Panel (Presumed Former Box Lid) old wooden egg It features hand-painted eyes in

It features hand-painted eyes in two different patterns executed in rich blue and purple against bright white on front and back

signaling peace

and indeed

With a little research I found an exact match of this guy on First Dibs (listed by a Belgian seller at $450)--ridiculous

with some surface rusting to the back

Italian Pietra Dura Playing Cards Panel (Presumed Former Box Lid) old wooden egg It features hand-painted eyes inI believe this Italian pietra dura (hard stone marquetry) panel was once inset into the lid of a brass or wood playing card box (one can find a range of examples out there with a quick search), but I was quite happy to find it on its own and would be inclined to hang it, perhaps in a gold frame, as a harbinger of good luck and fortune! Earlyish 20th century I believe, with a variety of semi precious stones inlaid lapis, malachite, etc. Lovely. 5 7 8"