Extremely rare creel made by a barrel cooper, believed to date from the mid 1800’s. Measuring 12” tall and nearly 10” wide, rattan wrapped, with wooden staves, lion-head side handles, and a 4 1/8” decorative plaque with a finely detailed fish applied on the front. Besides its rarity, this important early creel includes an extraordinary oil painting on the interior of the hinged lid; a likeness of this creel is clearly seen in the bottom right of the painting next to its fisherman. The talented artist appears to have executed the painting when the creel was new, most likely the original owner. With expected wear and attractive aged patina, this would be an important and certainly unique addition to even the most advanced collection.