Red Splint Basket with Fixed Handle

Presented here, a round bottom/round top splint basket with a fixed overhead handle notched at the rim which is neatly double-wrapped.  It was obviously made by a basket maker who was master of the art and employing the construction techniques that make for an exceptional basket.

It is sturdy, but it is also beautiful.  The tail of the handle continues down to almost butt the bottom to deter the handle being pushed down; the lashing at the rim prevents racking, or loosening; when the basket got to the rim, each vertical was turned down alternately on the inside and outside and the tails were cut off short.  The inside - outside turn-down is a sign of a basket made for utility. Baskets of this size were often used for egg baskets. It is double-bottomed with a slightly kicked in reinforced bottom.  The basket is made of  black/brown ash and the handle is shaped so as to nicely fit the hand. Size is 6 inches high (12 inches to the top of the handle) and 10 inches in diameter.

So much for the sturdy.  Now for the beautiful.  The closely-spaced pounded ash weavers provide a delicacy to the basket and the condition is high outstanding with no breaks or loss.  Painted in a wonderful red paint that is nice and dry, just the way we like it. There is minimal wear to the paint, mostly on the rim and the bottom, as one should expect from age and usage. As far as painted baskets go this one is a superstar! It's simply gorgeous! They just don't get any better than this.

R14L085831

Questions?  Ask the Ferret!