I know this beautiful little carved box came from the collection of Richard “Smitty” Axtell (Skinner recently held an auction of many pieces from his collection in "Smitty's Eye: The Axtell Collection") of Deposit, New York, whose collection focused on American antiques especially burl and other woodenware. This looks like burl to me, and beautifully carved, with bat wing-like points to the heart on the exterior, but then a rounded heart carved out inside, with a fitted lid echoing the shape. Very lovely, very special feeling, and quite an old one I believe.
2 1/16" t x 1 5/8" w x 1 1/16" t. There is a vertical hairline surface crack running down the center of the lid, which is quite minor (shot here in magnification), appearing more (to me at least) as an irregularity than a flaw--or perhaps vaguely suggesting a broken heart!