Scene w/TIPI: Burnt Work designs, flat wood box - J Clifton Polchies, Mi'kmaq

Description

A scene with a tipi, sun (or full moon), and 2 soaring eagles is on the top of this rectangular wooden box.  The 2 shorter sides have a trifoliate design with the 3 leaves at center of a double curve (a traditional Wabanaki design). These are all
burnt work designs that
by J Clifton Polchies, Mi'kmaq. (Micmac, USA spelling Mi'kmaq; Canadian spelling) has "burnt" onto the top and sides of this commercially made box.  The rectangular box has an inner inset on the lid that keeps the lid on.  Makes this box very sleek and uncluttered looking.
One of Clifton's larger boxes. it is 9" long, 6" across and 2.25" high.   This is a new style/form of box decorated by Clifton and can hold a variety of items.
Burnt work is also called  pyrography - dictionary definition
"Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or other materials with
burn
marks"
As a traditional art of the Wabanaki, burnt work has been used for at nearly 2 centuries and perhaps even prior to European contact...  The earliest burnt work design I have seen was on a paddle was dated to 1850 and have been told of others that were even earlier.  Wooden objects as well as birch bark items were sometimes decorated using the tips of burning sticks etc.
This commercially purchased wooden box has had the all the burnt work designs placed on it by the Mi'kmaq artist, J Clifton Polches.
It would make a great desk top box for holding scissors, pens/pencils, stamps, paper clips, push pins, erasers etc... or a wonderful jewelry/trinket box.  Some of my Mi'kmaq (USA spelling, MicMac) friends use Clifton's boxes to store medicinal herbs for teas, or tobacco for smoking in traditional pipes - as well as cedar, sweetgrass and sage for smudging.  -  You can store spiritually or emotionally significant items in this too.