Why are they called trinket baskets or rattle top baskets?
Many baskets which have lids, have rattles in a secret chamber in the knob of the lid. Many different materials are added to create the rattle. In the early days, it was the gizzards stones from local birds. Then, after first contact was made, lead shot (from firearms) was used. Now days, I use glass seed beads to create a soft rattle sound heard when you gently shake your basket’s lid. In days of old, before TV & radios, a mother would store her precious (trinkets) in this type of basket. If a child or a stranger got into the basket, the mother could hear the noise of the rattle top, and stop the intruder.
