Handwoven Lidded Basket with Wooden Rim & Braided Swing Handle

This is a well-made handwoven splint basket with a fitted lid, solid wooden rim, and original braided swing handle, sourced from a Shenandoah Valley estate.
The basket body is tightly woven in flat splints, evenly laid and well set, and seated into a wooden rim band rather than finished with a wrapped splint rim. The rim is pierced, with the basket body and handle lashed through the wood, an early and durable construction method that allows for seasonal movement and long-term stability. There are no nails, wire, or modern fasteners present.
The handle is formed from braided splints, lashed through the rim and wrapped back on itself in the traditional manner. The lid is likewise splint-woven with a fitted wooden band, showing consistent wear and patina that matches the basket body, indicating it has remained together rather than being married later.
The base is framed in solid wood, with the splint body secured through pierced holes using wrapped splints rather than tacks. Interior wear, softening of the splints, and surface oxidation are consistent with age and honest use.
Overall condition is very good for a working basket of this type. No breaks to the rim, no replaced elements, and no structural instability observed. The basket is masterfully crafted and survives in exceptional condition for a working example of this type. The splints remain tight and well set, the wooden rim and base are sound, and the original braided handle and fitted lid show no structural compromise. Surface wear and patina are consistent with age and careful use, rather than neglect or later alteration.
A solid example of regional American utilitarian basketry, made for use rather than display, and preserved well enough to be appreciated today by a serious collector.