Stunning 19th Century Mi'kmaq Birch Covered, Porcupine Quill Decorated Box black and yellow painted to the way Cornelius has

to the way Cornelius has written his name and numbers 1-4 on the inside flap

3 5/8" tall x 2 3/4" diameter at widest

Into one long edge on one side are the initials JEF

and with very pretty pink backs

and this is a terrific example

Stunning 19th Century Mi'kmaq Birch Covered, Porcupine Quill Decorated Box black and yellow painted to the way Cornelius hasThis 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