Museum – Exceptional Small Wooden Basket, Hand-carved And Openwork – Folk Art – Basket

Mid-19th century
Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France

An exceptional and extremely rare small carved and openwork wooden basket, a remarkable example of folk art from the Haute-Loire region of Auvergne, dating from the mid-19th century.

Entirely handcrafted, the object features a rectangular body mounted between four vertical stiles and fitted with a large, curved handle—perfectly original—for carrying it. The bottom consists of a solid plank, indicating that it served as a container or for transport, likely used for gathering or domestic purposes.

The piece is distinguished by the extraordinary richness of its decoration, which leaves virtually no part of the structure without ornamentation. All solid wood sections are carved with a wolf’s-tooth chisel, forming a dense sequence of triangular notches and geometric motifs. The uprights, crossbars, borders, and handle all feature this same decorative vocabulary with remarkable consistency.

All four sides are adorned with a spectacular frieze of balusters that are entirely cut out and openwork. These balusters take on a particularly unusual sinuous shape, resembling an angular “S,” arranged alternately to create a succession of facing motifs. This highly graphic cutwork is certainly one of the object’s most distinctive features.

The contrast between these large openwork balusters and the extremely dense work of the wolf’s-teeth motifs covering the framework gives the basket an almost architectural presence.

The curved handle is indeed the original one and is an integral part of the object’s design. It, too, retains its original decoration, contributing to the remarkable unity of the whole.

The profusion of chisel work, the regularity of the cutouts, and the care taken with each of the four sides far exceed mere functional requirements. An everyday object is thus transformed into a true work of folk sculpture.

The wood retains a superb, deep, and nuanced antique brown patina, with the natural wear and irregularities associated with its age and use.

Antique baskets from the Haute-Loire region featuring carved and openwork details of such magnitude are extremely rare. Thanks to the originality of its construction, the exceptional richness of its decoration, and the preservation of its original elements, this piece is an important example of Auvergne folk art and rural ethnography.

Condition: very good overall condition; original handle.

Dimensions:
Height with handle: 25 cm
Height without handle: 14.5 cm
Width: 15 cm
Length: 24.5 cm

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