It might interest you to know that U.S. Patent No. 286,952 was granted in 1883 to one William J. Moore of Weatherford, Texas for a new and improved wire harvest basket, the manufacture of which involved threading a wire through a top and a bottom hoop to form “an open net-work of reverse diagonally arranged or crossing wires.” If you think this sounds complicated, imagine how labor-intensive it was to make the handles.
Fast-forward to the 21st century for more improvements in the world of woven wire—oblong baskets, conical baskets, clam buckets, and wooden handles. What remains the same, however, is the object’s usefulness. A single wire basket is versatile enough to hold potatoes gathered from the garden or a stack of blankets in a bedroom.
Here are 10 of our favorite modern wire baskets, to gather and store valuables found outdoors or in:
Above: The Cabo Harvest Basket is 19 by 19 by 14.5 in. The hand-weaved wire basket is finished in a rust-proofing lacquer, ensuring it will last for many years; $105 from Design Ideas. Above: A Braided Wire Basket from Manufactum. Its original purpose was to harvest cider apples in late fall; available in small, medium, and large sizes; €34 to €44. Above: The Fog Linen Basket is a round wire basket with wire handles, measuring 37.5 cm in diameter and 27.5 cm tall; $95 NZ from Father Rabbit. Above: Handmade in Sweden by Korbo, a 16-liter Galvanized Wire Bucket is woven from a single long strand of wire. “There are simply no parts of the basket that can fall apart,” notes Finnish Design Shop; $92.05. For US shoppers, the Korbo Bucket Basket is also available from Canoe, starting at $175. Above: The Swedish Wire Basket with two side-handles; €123 from Manufactum. Above: A galvanized Peck Clam Basket with a bale handle is $33.95 from Clamming. Above: This Metal Harvest Basket allows you to wash and drain vegetables right in the basket. It measures 18.5 in long, 10.5 in wide, and 6.25 in high; $43.99 from Grow Organic. A Round Metal Wire Basket from Hudson Goods that comes with a set of two; $85. Above: A 40-quart Bushel Clam Basket with grip handles is $53.95 from Clamming. Above: Williams-Sonoma’s Gardening Basket is perfect for harvest time and serves as a unique storage solution. The basket measures 20 by 10.25 by 12 in high (including handle); $69.95.Is storage on your mind? For more indoor-outdoor options, see: