Antique paniers Français (French baskets) are a beloved staple at Les Fleurs! Whether you’re drawn to their rustic charm or appreciate their versatility — from foraging flowers to timeless décor — these baskets offer both beauty and function.

Today, we’re thrilled to dive into all you need to know about these charming pieces. Consider this your ultimate guide, or as we like to call it, the Basket Bible!

Inspiration

Looking for a little inspiration? Our wonderful customers, William and Janet Robichaud, recently turned their kitchen into a basket lover’s dream. While working with designer Kathy Marshall of Kathy Marshall Design, the Robichauds chose to adorn the stunning wooden beams of their kitchen with a curated collection of baskets. We had the pleasure of sourcing some of these treasures for them, and the result is absolutely breathtaking!

Whether you’re starting your collection or curious about the history of the antique baskets you already own, keep reading to become a true connoisseur.

Materials

French baskets are usually made with either rattan, willow, grass, wood, or wire materials. Specialty baskets can have added accents like porcelain plate bases and leather-wrapped handles & straps.

Wicker Basket Styles

Woven wicker baskets have round pieces of rattan or willow woven together in different patterns. Rattan is stiffer than willow and needs to be steamed before bending. Willow is softer and more flexible, and ages with a variety of patinas.

Open weave baskets such as the cage style have less intricate weaving patterns and often have bamboo or other wooden sticks woven in for support.

Grass style baskets are made with strips of seagrass or other wild grasses, coiled or wrapped and tightly woven together to create intricate designs.

Wooden Baskets

Splint baskets are made by weaving flat strips of shaved wood, usually ash or oak. The splint basket shown below makes the perfect vessel after a day of apple picking!

Wooden baskets that are not woven are often called caddies or trugs. These baskets are all unique, with markings on the wood from years of use, and different handles made with wire, strips of metal, or bent wood.

Wire Baskets

Wire baskets are made with different gauges (thickness) of wire, depending on the use. While fine wire offers more variety in design like loops and scrolls, heavier metal is best for sturdiness. Wire baskets with open weaves are best for air circulation.

Uses

☙ Champagne Harvesting Baskets: Traditionally used for gathering champagne grapes, these large baskets are ideal for harvest time. Wooden runners can often be found on the base to help the basket stand on the ground once filled with grapes. Some even have straps to be carried like a backpack!

☙ Double Bustle Baskets: These small baskets with 2 sections are also known as champignon (mushroom) baskets, used to collect mushrooms or berries.

☙ Wooden Berry Baskets: With a shallow wooden base and tall handle, these are used for foraging berries, and are also perfect for gathering flowers, herbs, or small fruit.

☙ Market Baskets: Ideal for shopping trips, these classic baskets are roomy and easy to carry for groceries or farmer’s market finds.

☙ Covered Picnic Baskets: These wonderful baskets usually have 2 split lids, hinged at the center. Pie baskets have wooden supports, perfect for carrying a freshly made pie!

☙ Fishing Creels: Fisherman used these wicker baskets as a cooler, lined with moss and dipped into the creek to keep the catch chilled. For heavier fish, a large collapsible wire mesh basket was used.

☙ Bread Baskets: Designed for carrying and serving bread, from baguettes to boules, traditional ones had hand-sewn linen lining used to proof and cool loaves of bread in French boulangeries (bakeries).

☙ Wire Harvest Baskets: These versatile baskets have an open wire weave and are used for foraging flowers and vegetables as well as carrying shellfish.

☙ Wine Bottle Baskets: Wine bottle carriers are specifically designed to safely transport wine bottles, often used during wine tastings or picnics. Other bottle holders are used for serving wine on a tabletop.

☙ Laundry Baskets: These tall baskets have 2 handles and an open weave, making them lightweight when carrying clothing and linens.

☙ Egg Baskets / Salad Baskets: Traditionally used to collect and transport eggs, these baskets’ open design ensures proper airflow to keep eggs safe and fresh. The round styles are also called salad baskets, used for washing lettuce and vegetables.

☙ Winnowing Baskets: These shallow tightly woven baskets were used to separate wheat from the chaff by a person known as a vanneur (winnower).

☙ Hanging Baskets: Baskets that hang on walls are used to hold plants, letters, and other household items.