|
|
Factory-Made Machine-Cut Veneer Splint
Baskets |
 |
The American factory-made,
machine-cut veneer splint baskets that came to prominence during the industrial
revolution, putting many individual basket artisans out of business in the
process, are now being threatened and driven to extinction themselves. Global
competition is mounting from companies that are harvesting North American Black
Ash, Maple and Oak hardwoods in the US and Canada and then shipping the wood to
Asian countries such as China and Korea. Workers in those foreign countries
weave the baskets by the thousands before they are imported back into America.
These companies with offshore production facilities are now causing basket
factories in the states to succumb and put even more pressure on the
continuation of the tradition of individual American traditional basket
artisans. While some of the baskets listed here are made in the USA read
descriptions carefully to determine where any of these baskets is actually
created because that information is often presented in a very deceptive fashion.
American
Traditions
Factory-made, machine-cut maple
veneer splint baskets with nailed rims.
Basketville
Among the wide variety of baskets sold by this company you will find
Reproduction Nantucket style baskets,
reproduction Shaker style ash splint baskets and
facsimiles of Appalachian style baskets. In the case of the Shaker
reproductions the scarce ash splint is being shipped from North America to China
where the baskets are woven by Chinese workers. The Appalachian facsimiles are
woven by workers in Haiti using some local material other than the authentic
material, white oak. While the corporate headquarters are in Putney, Vermont,
recent expansion has been on an international scale. Basketville weaves baskets
in its own workshop in China and imports baskets from around the world where
their overseas weavers use native New England ash.
Bradford
Basket Company
Bradford Baskets were American factory-made, machine cut maple veneer splint
baskets with nailed rims. In 2005 they suffered a fire that burned their company
to the ground and they have decided that they will not be able to re-open their
facility. Another American basket company has lost its struggle against global
competition.
Day Basket Factory
Manufactured baskets woven from white oak splint. Factory
established in 1876. Baskets come in a variety of sizes and styles. Market
baskets in four different sizes, round farm baskets with bentwood handles or rope handles,
picnic baskets with lids, laundry baskets, fish or firewood baskets, berry baskets,
picking baskets with drop handles, eel pots and many others.
Longaberger Baskets
Factory-made, veneer-cut maple woodsplint baskets in standardized
designs, manufactured by the millions and marketed in party plan fashion by
independent sales associates each year.
Opinion
from Editor: Even though they attempt to maintain a very
wholesome, made-in-America image, the image the Longaberger family is trying to
convey seems ironic to me now, since the company is outsourcing a large amount
of their products to factories in China. Why anyone would want an over priced
basket from a company that sells 10 million factory-made baskets a year or other
companies like it when there are so many high quality traditional American
baskets made by individual basket artists is beyond me, but then that is a
matter of personal taste. I'll save my money for purchases that will support the
continuing history of individual traditional American basket artists who are
suffering in the midst of so many pressures that seem hell-bent on the
destruction of that tradition.
Peterboro Baskets
Functional and decorative hardwood veneer cut splint baskets includes household
baskets, such as garden baskets, laundry hampers, gift baskets and organizers for the
kitchen counter. Made in a family owned factory that continues a 150 year New England
Yankee tradition.
Sun Decor Korean Baskets
Factory-made machine-cut veneer Longaberger clone baskets use lumber cut in
North America and shipped to Korea where workers weave the baskets by the
thousands before they are imported back into America to be sold in ecommerce
sites such as
Maplewoodbasket.com
Basketry
By Material Type
[ Antler ] [ Baleen ] [ Bamboo ] [ Birch Bark ] [ Black Ash ] [ Cattail ] [ Cedar ] [ Devil's Claw ] [ Gourd ] [ Horsehair ] [ Other ] [ Palm ] [ Pine Needle ] [ Quill ] [ Rattan ] [ Rivercane ] [ Sweetgrass ] [ Veneer Cut ] [ White Oak ] [ Willow ]
More about
baskets
• Collecting Baskets • Display and Care For Your Baskets • Collect New Baskets • Is This Basket A Fake? •
| 
