Two-Handled Berry Basket

One little basket, small in size but with a powerful presence.  It was meant for gathering berries or cherries or a light load of apples.  An attractive primitive, it dates back to the early 20th century.  The body goes from a slightly out of round top rim down to a square base.  The interior is tightly woven in a pattern similar to the chase weave. The exterior has staves, closely set.  There are lines of wrapping at the bottom, the center and just under the rim at top.

This is a double handled basket. The handles are carved wood, wrapped and painted. One of the reasons we love this basket so much is the fact that the handles are quite small.  To me, an endearing feature.  I'm imagining a child's fingers gripped them.  The bottom of the basket has solid reinforcement in a frame and a center strip of thick wood.  Overall, the basket was covered in forest green paint.  Where the paint is worn, flaked or chipped off, there's a soft pale sand color.  Some of that is worn off, showing a light wood beneath.  The bottom has whitewash splashed on it.
A versatile size ~ 4 1/4" high (with another 3/4" added for the handles), measurements of top 6 1/2" X 7"; measurements of the almost square bottom 4" X 4 1/4".  Country primitive charm at its best ~ and most useful.  Handy at your sewing table for fabric remnants, on your desk for loads of scrap paper, in your kitchen holding wooden spoons, hanging at the back door, ready to go picking berries.  And in the winter, filled with balls of wool, evergreen branches and pine cones.  Just not all at once.