Stunning 19th Century Mi'kmaq Birch Covered, Porcupine Quill Decorated Box tin bank Altogether quite a model of

Altogether quite a model of creativity and productivity

I believe whisk brooms/brushes of this sort of construction are generally referred to "turkey wing"--though the bristles on most are more angled

due largely to the wonderfully balletic shape of those bare feet

with the well worn mark of James Brown

with some toning/spotting as evident

Stunning 19th Century Mi'kmaq Birch Covered, Porcupine Quill Decorated Box tin bank Altogether quite a model ofThis is the sort of thing I really can't believe exists in the world; the craftmanship is so exquisite, and the manipulation of the materials such a challenging and laborious process, that its creation, to say nothing of its endurance, just amazes me. (It is many times more beautiful in person, and extremely viscerally satisfying.) I come across small Native American bark boxes decorated with porcupine quills now and then, most made for the tourist