Guernsey Tomato Basket as well as 19th-century examples

as well as 19th-century examples made entirely with willow ribs

the flat back of the basket made with horizontal ribs

Rope straps are spliced onto the basket border at the back

In his book ‘Baskets of Europe’ Maurice Bichard explains how these baskets were made in France in huge quantities

circumference at top 150 cm

Guernsey Tomato Basket as well as 19th-century examplesGuernsey Tomato Baskets were traditionally made to export tomatoes off island until about the 1930s, when non returnable wooden chip baskets took over the job. In his book Baskets of Europe Maurice Bichard explains how these baskets were made in France in huge quantities. When full of tomatoes they were shipped from Guernsey to the UK. The empty baskets were then packed together in fours and returned to the vinaries to be reused up to 15 times. These