Curious Old Carved and Painted Folk Art Wall Box with Birds and Hands - or Cacti! lantern What I am not certain

What I am not certain of is whether there is an intended function for the opening in the front of the body

but if you just want a few

It was purchased from the estate of an architect and architectural historian in Kansas City

toys and figures in this vein

This beautifully woven

Curious Old Carved and Painted Folk Art Wall Box with Birds and Hands - or Cacti! lantern What I am not certainThis one I found in Pennsylvania and find super curious. The painting on the front has a Southwestern flavor, and then on both sides are what look striped sleeved arms ending in hands with pink painted fingernails.. but which one also could perhaps instead take for flowering cacti! And then on the back, two stylized bird with pin pricked outlines that feel very Pennsylvania, making this feel like quite a hybrid thing. 1940s I would think, though