Atlantic Canada or Northeastern United States, ca. 1860–1890
Birch bark, porcupine quillwork, wool and velvet

A rare and outstandingly preserved example of 19th-century Mi’kmaq curlicue basketry, this finely constructed pin cushion is formed of tightly coiled birch bark, meticulously executed in the traditional curlicue technique and richly embellished with dense porcupine quillwork. The basket is decorated with crisply articulated, repeating diamond motifs rendered in early dyed quills of deep brick red, muted green, and natural tones, all retaining exceptional color saturation.

The oval form is surmounted by its original cranberry velvet pin cushion, hand-fitted within a raised quilled collar and supported by intact period interior padding. Particularly notable is the complete survival of the upright rim curlicues, each precisely cut, tightly rolled, and evenly spaced—an area where loss or crushing is almost universally encountered. Here, the curlicues remain fully intact and sharply defined throughout, a condition rarely seen even in museum collections.

The underside reveals original interior construction, including the bark collar and early wool or felt lining, with no evidence of later alteration, repair, or replacement. The quillwork is remarkably well preserved, with no significant losses, breaks, or fading, and the basket structure remains firm and true.