Twig Easter Chick Basket

DECORATED EASTER TWIG BASKET WITH A SISAL CHICK IN A LAVENDER FELT BONNET, PASTEL EGGS, AND SILK BLOSSOMS A decorative Easter basket built up from bundled natural twigs. The body is a rectangular basket of vertical twigs bound with wire and twine over a frame, with a tall arched twig handle wrapped in vine. The interior is filled with dried grass and moss and holds a bristle or sisal chick in cream-tan with black eyes and an orange beak, wearing a lavender felt wide-brim bonnet trimmed with net and small purple, blue, and green fabric blossoms. Around the chick sit speckled pastel eggs in blue, grey, and cream, and the basket rim and handle are trimmed with lavender, pink, and purple silk flowers, green fabric leaves, and trailing vine. Flaws include broken and splintered twig ends, loose twig tips at the top edge and base, dust and grass debris throughout, glue residue and visible hot-glue points at the flower attachments, wire and twine binding that shows slack in places, and some crushing to the felt hat brim; several fabric leaves and blossoms are lifting or loose. UNTESTED - the basket has NOT been load-tested and should be treated as decorative rather than functional; the number of eggs and blossoms has not been counted. Sold as one decorated basket with its contents as pictured. Description Form: rectangular twig basket with an arched vine-wrapped handle, decorated for spring display Contents: one bristle-sisal chick in a lavender felt bonnet, several speckled pastel artificial eggs, dried grass and moss filler Trim: silk and fabric blossoms in lavender, purple, pink, and green, fabric leaves, and trailing vine on the rim, sides, and handle Construction/Finish: natural twigs bound with wire and twine over a frame, decorations attached with hot glue and wire Marks: no maker mark, label, sticker, or price tag is visible in any frame, so none is claimed Size: approximately 8 in wide and approximately 11 1/2 in tall to the top of the handle per the tape-measure photographs, with the twig body standing approximately 6 1/2 to 7 in tall Attribution note Twig and grapevine baskets decorated with sisal or bristle animals, felt millinery, speckled eggs, and silk blossoms were a staple of the seasonal gift and craft trade, produced in quantity for import and sold through florists, craft stores, and gift shops, and the same components were also widely used by home and church craft groups making arrangements one at a time. Bristle-and-sisal chicks and rabbits of this type - bundled fiber over a wire or foam core with glued-on features - have been made continuously since the mid-twentieth century and are still produced, so the construction alone does not fix a date. Nothing in these photographs identifies a manufacturer, importer, or designer, and no country of origin sticker is present. The piece is described here as a decorated seasonal basket rather than as an antique. All period, maker, and origin comments are offered as the consignor's photo-based opinion and are not guaranteed. Bid on the item(s) as pictured. Notes for bidders Natural twig construction is dry and brittle - carry the basket by the body, not the handle, since arched twig handles on pieces like this snap where they enter the rim. Do not wash or dampen any part of it; water will loosen the hot glue, stain the felt hat, and swell the twigs. Dust it with a soft dry brush or a can of compressed air held well back, and expect some shedding no matter how carefully it is handled. Store it dry and away from mice and insects, which are attracted to the grass filler, and keep it out of direct sun so the felt and silk blossoms do not fade. Only the item(s) pictured are included in this lot. Terms Sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All sales final. Please ask any questions before bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arrangements per auction terms.