Since birchbark was plentiful and could be harvested without killing the tree, Native Americans made excellent use of this resource. Birchbark baskets were especially plentiful, serving as both useful tools and artistic expressions. This particular basket probably dates back to the 1800s. The lovely floral pattern was painted on using clays of different colors. This floral design was common to the woodland Ojibwa tribe. Just as with the birchbark canoes, the artist stitched the pieces together with cedar and coated the seams with pitch. It's a bit sad that mass production has replaced this kind of artistry!