Glass and Ceramic Baskets

When you think baskets, you probably think of Easter. Collecting glass and ceramic baskets doesn’t really revolve around a specific season, however. Clever collectors have found they can be used for decorating, organizing, and serving year-round.

There’s a book available that will spark your imagination and remind you about just how many different types of cleverly crafted baskets can make up a collection. Take a look at Glass & Ceramic Baskets (Collector Books) by Carole Bess White and L.M. White and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

With close to 600 photographs of both old and new baskets featured, as well as pages covering old magazine ads and import catalogs, you can study this soft cover guide for hours. You'll learn about what’s available perusing the pages, which always offers an excellent opportunity to make up a “wish list” for future shopping expeditions.

In fact, the prices, styles and rarity of the baskets shown in this guide vary so widely that it offers a match for every taste and budget. This aspect is nice for both beginners and avid collectors whether watching the purse strings or not.

The section on American glass baskets provides a good look at classic manufacturers with most examples dating prior to the 1950s. Whether you favor the glass of Cambridge, Heisey, Fenton, Duncan and Miller, Imperial or Westmoreland, you’ll find ample representation here. All the photos are in color, too, which makes turning the pages even more enticing.

Although the older pieces are often favorites, this guide includes some modern imported glass baskets as well. Regardless of your preference, a little comparison between old and new can prepare you to identify mislabeled wares and avoid paying too much while browsing your favorite shopping haunts.

As for ceramic and pottery baskets, Roseville is the largest of the pottery companies featured in the book but there are many others represented including Hull and McCoy examples. The ceramic imports section is extensive, and quite interesting, including everything from early 1900s souvenir baskets to handcrafted Capodimonte baskets made in Italy.

Throughout the book, each piece is pictured and accompanied by a brief description, market value, and country of manufacture. Readers preferring to learn through visuals won’t be disappointed. Those seeking a text for extensive study, however, won’t find this to be a best choice.

This book isn’t comprehensive by any means. There were just too many different baskets produced over the years to gather them into one resource, so you could very well own a number of baskets that aren’t shown in this reference. Nevertheless, it does provide a good point of departure when discovering what you’re attracted to as far as color, shape, size and composition are concerned.

If you prefer a reference guide offering oodles of background information on the pieces depicted within, this won’t be the guide for you. Quite frankly, it covers too many different types and makers of glass and ceramics to go into great detail in this respect. That doesn’t make it bad though.

The collector of glass and ceramic baskets, or avid antiquer already familiar with a wide variety of makers and styles of glass and ceramics, will likely appreciate this book more than the beginner. As an overview, it more than adequately does the job intended.