At first I thought it was an incense burner, as I've seen many about that size and in that style, but the absence of any openings in the lid argues against that idea.
My next thought was that it might be for holding embers for lighting a smoking pipe, with the little tongs / tweezers used to pick up the ember and apply it to the tobacco in the pipe bowl.
Until someone comes along who knows for sure what it is, you might search along both lines.
