real armadillo basket! that's right, a basket made of an actual armadillo. My husband's grandmother was telling us all about how she wanted one of these when she was a newly wed and they just never got one. so, we got her this one for Christmas several years ago. we'll, she has decided to downsize and given it back to us. my daughter is completely freaked out by it, so we are selling it to someone who can actually use it and not have to hide it from a terrified teenager.