Vintage Wabanaki lunch basket - small sized. Never have I seen another remotely similar to this. (I've seen 10's of thousands of Wabanaki baskets: appraised, bought, sold, collected and viewed in museum and private collections for about 50 years now) (LAST PHOTO ... put there as an example of wall pockets, these baskets were sold elsewhere and so NOT INCLUDED)
This has a lid that opens, has 2 wrapped rings used for closure of lid, an ash splint wrapped bentwood handle with near 90* angles at top, and it has stepped sides (on the sides where handle attaches). These stepped sides are typically seen in "wall baskets" - where the back of the basket hangs on the wall - See last photo; basket on the right.
This is 7.5" long by 5.5" across. To the top of the basket rim/lid is 3.75" To the top of the 2 stepped sides is 6.5" - from bottom of basket to top of handle is 9"
Woven entirely of brown ash splints, traditional material of Maine and Eastern Canadian Indian basketmakers, with a bentwood handle and rim. The largest closure loop (one on the lid) is 1 3/4" in diameter ... it fits over the bottom closure loop, 1 3/8" diameter.
For a collector who has most Wabanaki forms - this will likely be a new one for your collection - It makes a great conversation piece .. Why the stepped sides? Is it big enough for an adult's lunch or was it made for a child? How did the basketmaker get such sharp angles in the handle?