I made this basket over 20 years ago, when I was in college. We use it
to collect eggs and bring up potatoes and onions from our basement
storage area.
My basket is made in the same design as this one, which was made by my great grandfather. I only use this basket for display now, as I am afraid it will break. It is old and brittle.
Both baskets were used at our wedding reception. I lined each with a cloth napkin and put birdseed in them. Before we left the reception a couple of children walked around with these baskets and offered birdseed to the guests who wanted to toss some on us when we went to our car.
I have been thinking about family heirlooms and how they get to be "heirlooms." My great grandfather probably made more than one basket to be used on the farm. This one happened to last long enough for my mother to save it after it fell out of regular use. I doubt is was more special than the others he made except for the fact that this one lasted. I am using the baskets I made years ago. In fact, we used one so much that the reed weaving on it has broken and fallen out. That one is no longer usable and I have it in the basement with the idea that someday I will reweave it.
This makes me wonder about what things will be passed down in my family. Which things that I have made will reach future generations? Will it be the "ugly" quilts that don't get used that end up surviving or the things that are very special and only seldom used? The family favorites will be very worn, maybe even "worn out" and thrown away. I am sure there is a bit of luck involved too. What is it that we learn about our ancestors from the items they pass down? I would like to know about the much loved heirlooms that didn't last. What stories could they tell? What treasured family memories are lost with the items that helped make them special?
