Baskets old and new

(More to Come!)

Winnowing Basket: North American

Lovely old winnowing basket. you basically loaded it with newly harvested grain and then repeatedly tossed the contents into the air, allowing the breeze to blow away the chaff while you caught the heavier grain on the way back down. Then you do it all over again until the grain is free of chaff and ready to be used—or saved for next year’s planting.

Probably over 100 years old because it’s been a really long time since this basket was actually used at harvest time.

$40

Winnowing Basket: Asian

The tight plaiting and colored rim lashing are quite common in Chinese or Vietnamese winnowing trays from the mid-20th century. (If I didn’t feel old before, using phrases like ‘mid-20th century’ really does the trick!).

Probably used for winnowing rice or grains, drying foods (tea, herbs, noodles) or serving or storing produce.

$40

Oak (or Ash) farm utility basket

Another mid-20th century basket. Might have been used for laundry, gathering produce from the garden or storing textiles.

$40