Venus Flower Basket

Venus Flower Basket   7" - 8"  
The Venus Flower Basket is one of nature's most remarkable creations. It's actually a glass sponge — built from silica into an intricate lattice so precisely engineered that it can withstand the crushing pressure of the deep ocean. Scientists have actually been studying its structure for inspiration in architecture and materials design.
But the best story might be the one happening inside. A pair of small shrimp take up residence early in life, and as they grow, the basket's delicate openings become too small to escape. So they stay — a bonded pair, spending their lives together cleaning the sponge in exchange for the food it filters from the water. In Japan they've long been given as wedding gifts, symbolizing a lifetime together.