Lovely and Unusual Old Gold Painted Miniature Basketry Basinet with Wooden Bottom

A curious and quite perfect little basketry basinet, perhaps once part of a nativity scene and housing the baby Jesus himself! I really don't know, but my guess is that it was painted gold at a slightly later date than its making--looks like a late 19th/very early 20th century home-done gilding to me, which also gives it a bit of a tramp art feel. With a wooden bottom to the basket, pine I believe, quite beautifully constructed.

  3 3/4" x 2 5/8" x 2 3/8" t. Excellent condition, no losses or issues whatsoever, and gold paint has mellowed to the perfect tone.