As I've noted elsewhere, I've become a huge fan of Northeast Coast Native American baskets, which, made of sweetgrass and ash splint, exemplify a really distinctive, and inventive, material language. Wabanaki refers to the 5 tribes living in Maine, Vermont and Eastern Canada (The Abenaki, Maliseet, MicMac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot). There are some unique attributes to the baskets of each tribe, but I am not entirely certain from which tribe  this one came, as its round and flat form is a common one among them. 

It is beautifully made, with a perimeter of braided sweetgrass on the face and side of the lid, and the bottom half of the basket mirroring the top. The ash splint structure, dyed dark green, is exposed at the very center of top and bottom, as well as along the rim of the interior, which is as gorgeous as the exterior.

The only flaw on this otherwise excellent condition basket, which I'd guess dates to the first half of the 20th century, likely earlyish, is one area around the lip of the lid where a couple of loops of ash splint have been lost, allowing a couple of pieces of grass to spring loose (see photos). This could be easily repaired, but i'd just leave it alone!

It measures 9 1/2" in diameter x 2 1/2" tall.