Episode 65 | The Antique Baskets You Should Be Hunting For

Matt sits down with antique dealer and collector Laura Saville for a deep dive into old baskets, using examples from Matt’s collection and baskets Laura brought with her to answer a deceptively simple question: how do you know a good basket when you see one?

The episode starts with the best basket Matt says he has ever seen. They revisit footage from the Ledbetter Auctions sale, talk about the bidder who still regrets letting it go, and use it as the standard for what a truly great Appalachian basket can look and feel like.

From there, Matt and Laura work through a table full of Appalachian baskets and explain what they are actually looking at when they pick one up. Age, construction, rim wraps, handles, ribs, tie-offs, patina, materials, shape, condition, repairs, and even the way a basket feels in your hands can all help separate an average basket from a great one.

By the end, Matt has gone from showing Laura the baskets he knows best to letting her teach him what to hunt for next.

Chapters

00:00 | Laura Saville and the Basket Episode

04:00 | The Best Basket Matt Has Ever Seen

11:03 | How Old Is an Old Appalachian Basket?

14:30 | The $200 Basket Matt Wouldn’t Sell for $10,000

19:14 | Mary Prater and Recognizing a Basket Maker

23:19 | Mary Causby and Baskets to Hunt For

26:01 | Shelton Sisters, Damage and Condition