Lovely Old Abenaki "Porcupine Quill" Splint Basket with Flat Lid tin count bank and individually hand-painted

and individually hand-painted

11 1/4" l x 7 5/8" t x 3/16" d

and there's even some darkening to the bottom as if heated over a stove

and this pear is a excellent example

It's June as I post this--the time of the year when I want cut flowers in every room--and this pitcher is 100% perfect for a big bunch of peonies

Lovely Old Abenaki "Porcupine Quill" Splint Basket with Flat Lid tin count bank and individually hand-paintedI believe this is specifically Mi'kmaq, though I have found Passamaquoddy attributed baskets also showing "porcupine quill" curlicue splint weaving like this clearly Abenaki (Northeast Woodlands Native America, a confederacy comprised of five tribes) in any case, and clearly a beautiful example! Late 19th very early 20th century I believe, finely constructed and in near perfect condition, with a very rich warm dry patina to the splint, and sweetgrass