Scandanavian Large Lidded Sami Birch Bark Box with Carved Topple

Regular price $80.00

This is the largest of these traditional Scandanavian wrapped birch bark boxes I've ever seen at 5 1/2" inches long; some I believe were made as snuff boxes, but if would take an awfully lot of snuff to fill this one! I believe this one likely dates to the first half of the 20th century and was made by a member of the Sámi or Saami culture, indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula, historically been known in English as Lapps or Laplanders.

I really love the scalloped edges of the wrapped bark (a bit like the chip-carved edges of wood on a tramp art frame or box), with one end tucking into the other where they meet at the center of one side. The interior of the wooden box is lined in birch bark as well, with exposed wood on the bottom and underside of the lid. 

Very good overall condition. There is one area on the interior where the bark has come away from the wood, pretty minor. 5 1/2" long x 3 3/8" wide x 3 1/4" tall; 4 1/4" tall including topple.