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This old miniature Urchin Basket is simply amazing. They are called "Urchin" baskets as the shape was copied from the shape of a real Sea Urchin species. I just got it and I can't stop looking at it. These baskets were made by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Native American tribes. They were very hard shape to weave, and they could not use a basket mold to weave around to get the shape. They would have to bend the larger splints more than the other baskets they made, and had to keep everything uniform for the shape while they wove the smaller splints in. The splints broke more during the making of the Urchin baskets because of the severe bending. Because of this, the artist could charge more for Urchin Baskets. Even after they are done, the splints can still break and it is hard to find one now that does not have damage. This one is 3 inches in diameter and just one and 3/4 inches in height. It is a perfect miniature in all ways, no broken splints and the tiny round finial is just too cute for words. I have a large Urchin basket (pics are on my page) that is the same colors as this one so now I have big sister and little sister together. When I saw it up for auction I had to have it. Even though this basket looks brand new, it is probably from the 1920's - 1930's. Whoever had this beauty sure took great care of it and kept it out of the sunlight.