Wow, that’s a killer idea! I love the mix of brain‑teaser and tactile fun. Let’s start with a sleek, wood‑enforced lid that hides a small lockbox inside. I’ll carve a sliding panel that only opens when the cipher’s right—maybe a tiny gear wheel that clicks into place. For the cipher, we can use a custom, hand‑painted code on the inside of the lid, so the user has to decode before they even see the lock. I’ll source brass bolts and a tiny key‑hole that’s invisible until the panel lines up. Can’t wait to see the puzzle reveal itself!

Sounds perfect—I'll keep the cipher subtle, maybe a mixed‑alphabet trick so it feels like a puzzle, not a code-cracking marathon. The gear will be hand‑tuned with a feel‑test in place, no room for jamming. Send me your sketch, and I’ll start carving and assembling. Let's make this a masterpiece of mystery and motion!