In the days of the Old Norse or the Vikings, containers were more often than not made of wood and birch bark. The birch bark made the containers water proof. The containers held everything from personal property to food stuffs. Over the years these containers changed as the methods for making them changed. First, men learned how to hollow tree limbs and trunks to form containers. Later, they learned how to split wood to form thin sheets they could bend in order for form the sides of containers. These types of containers came to be known as Sveiping. There are many styles of Sveiping or what we may commonly call today, bentwood boxes. One of my favorites is the Tine, pronounced tea-na where the end fastening fixtures designate the namesake. These end pieces may be artistic or may be animal or dragon in design. In any event, the tine over time has evolved from a utilitarian utensil to a highly sought after betrothal, wedding, anniversary and birthday gift. They are all unique and one-of-a-kind and should be treated as an heirloom by anyone who receives one