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Monday, August 17, 2015

Louise's Basket

I really don't buy much in the way of home goods these days, honest. But this weekend, we passed by a group of three little antique shops in Starks, Illinois, a crossroads near Huntley. The husband has a particular fondness for a couple of these shops because in the past he has found vintage hand tools there, notably several hand drills which he cleaned up, oiled, and gave to our kids. He's currently on the lookout for some kind of tool thing, I can't remember what, so we stopped. My favorite of the three shops is called Rose and Rooster or Rooster and Rose, some such name that sounds like a British pub. It is a tiny little shop that is packed and stacked to the point that I always walk carefully through, clutching my purse to my side to prevent knocking something off. I think I always buy something there, so it's lucky I don't go very often. My latest find: a small picnic basket.

At thirteen inches wide by eight inches deep, it's not too small, not too big -- just right.
The shape and style first caught my eye; it's so much like the baskets my mother-in-law used to buy. Then, the surprise inside: it still has its grid which provides a protected space for a pie or other delicate item to fit on the bottom.


What clinched the sale, however, was the handwritten name on the front and inside of the basket.


Louise Gerhardt had written her name and the name of her small Illinois town on the basket. While I have no connection to this family or even the name Louise, the personal touch of the hand printed name just grabbed me. Baskets like this date from the 1940s according to an article I saw online.  I imagine Mrs.Gerhardt taking this to a church supper and making dead sure she got her basket back. She lived in a town not too far from us. I Googled her name and town (the husband said he knew I would), and found that she was born in 1899 and died in 1978. She and her husband are buried in a town in the southern part of the county.

I found some very similar baskets for sale online -- one for $58 and one for $72.  Want to know how much I paid? $12.76 including tax. I call that a deal. It needs some cleaning up, but I love my new/old picnic basket. Thanks, Mrs. Gerhardt, I'll treasure your basket, and if I take it anywhere, I'll make dead sure I get it back.

14 comments:

  1. I'm with you on this...the name would have cinched the deal for me. Wonderful fine and a great bargain.

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  2. Looks and sounds like a great find at a good price!

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  3. What a great find. The name personalizes this and makes it even more valuable. And what a deal.

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  4. Your sweet basket would also be handy for crochet take-along projects in the car. Great deal!

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  5. That is a gorgeous basket! I love the history behind it. Starks Corners is not too far from my house - maybe 40 minutes. I pass through that intersection when I visit my son in DeKalb. I've been to the little antique shops there a couple of times. :-)

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  6. I love the basket! I used to have one similar and I used it to take desserts and such to parties. It later became a place where I would stash craft supplies. So handy for so many things!

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  7. Adorable basket - I bet Mrs. Gerhardt was smiling when her basket found a loving home!

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  8. Yes it does rather sound like a pub name! Beautiful basket, I have a weakness for baskets xx

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  9. I **LOVE** that basket! Yes, you did get a bargain. It just needs a bit of a scrub and a coat of mineral oil and it will bring it back to life. I love baskets so much and yours has a lot of character. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. That's a great picnic basket and considering its age, it's in very good condition. I love how you were able to find out about the owner and the history of this basket. And I hope you're able to take it on many wonderful and happy picnics - may its journey continue! xx

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  11. I love your picnic basket. Such a neat treasure you happened upon. Love that you were able to find out some information about the original owner through Google. Yay for technology!!!

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  12. What a treasure! I too love something like this. It is so neat to hold something in your hands that belonged to someone long time ago. That person for sure would be happy knowing it's good hands and being loved again.

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