Huge Old Crown of Thorns Whimsy Garland in Red, White, Blue and Gold, (in Two Parts) carpet bowling perhaps expressing surprise

perhaps expressing surprise

very clean vintage condition

woven splint of the lid softened with age

5 7/8” t x 2 1/8 x 2” and in very good condition

Huge Old Crown of Thorns Whimsy Garland in Red, White, Blue and Gold, (in Two Parts) carpet bowling perhaps expressing surpriseI recently learned that some wooden wreaths constructed of interlocking carved wooden bits were Scandanavian in origin, used for the preservation of yeast in beer and mead making. This is not one of those, but I have to imagine the former informed the construction of later "crown of thorn" type frames and whimsies or garlands like this one, which I might guess was fraternal (Masonic or Odd Fellows?) in origin, earlier 20th century. Definitely it was