Gorgeous Heavy Flower Basket

Most baskets of the Brilliant Period are much later and on thin blanks with shallow cutting. This basket is just opposite – it’s quite heavy and thick with an extremely thick handle – it stands out from most others in both shape and presence.

The pattern on this piece is quite unusual. Bands of hobnail create the major outline and meet at fields of crosshatching. They frame large, deep hobstars which run down to the base of the basket. The edge of the piece has an unusual fan motif featuring almost cornucopia of fan cutting. The very thick handle is double notched with a crosscut “X” in between each notch. Even the base of the basket is finished with a large 28-point hobstar.

The basket is in very good condition with some minor roughness at the edge. It’s impressive size measures just under 12″ tall and 9″ wide.