What happened to her fingers?
Most likely the fingers were damaged at some point moving this sculpture between locations. They are the most fragile aspect of the sculpture, and often fingers, or other thin details tend to break over time. The missing fingers make her an interesting sculpture to compare with Louise Bourgeois' nearby "self-portrait" of her hands post sculpting marble.
What is that box?
Are you familiar with the myth of Pandora? That is a very dainty representation of Pandora's box!
I am not familiar with the story.
In the myth, Pandora was the first woman. She was created by the god Zeus and given many gifts and talents as well as this box that she was not meant to open. Her curiosity got the better of her and she opened it anyway. It unleashed the evils of mankind onto the earth, but hope remained inside the box.
Greek and Roman mythology were popular subjects for 19th century sculptors. Here, Chauncey Bradley Ives shows Pandora at her most curious, considering opening the box.
I see.
Fun fact: In the ancient Greek interpretation of the story, Pandora would have had a clay pot instead of the box that is often referred to today.
Interesting, Pandora's pot.