American, late 20th century, of octagonal form, the strips of cherry bark sewn together with waxed linen thread, reinforced to interior with small twigs, signed "L. Bills" to base, 4 x 10-1/2 x 10-1/2 in.

Note: Artist's statement: "In 1980, I was introduced to bark as a material that had been used in traditional basket making. From the beginning I was smitten with its natural beauty, also I loved that I could gather it in nearby woods, for nothing. Since I was gathering it from trees scheduled to be removed for construction and ground into wood chips, I felt that, through the work I created, I would be giving the bark and the trees a new, additional life."

Provenance: Private Collection, New York

minor area of loss to bark, stress marks to bark panels