Antique hand carved hopechest

I don't remember the story behind this hand carved one of a kind hopechest that I inherited from my mother after she passed. What I do remember is her telling me it was once appraised at 9,000 but that was a long time ago. I know the artist that hand carved this hopechest makes only one of kind items. It tells a story but it's been so many years its hard for me to remember it. I believe it comes from the late 1800's-early 1900's .