The Classic Picnic Basket

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This scene from the 2019 Little Women movie, with the March girls standing on the breezy beach, baskets in hand ready to picnic, is one of my favorites. Two of those baskets were made right here in New England by the Peterboro Basket Co., which has been making their classic baskets since 1854, 15 years before Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, was even published. Their timeless, handmade baskets were appreciated by Audrey Hepburn, when she lived in Peterborough, New Hampshire for a summer. This iconic photo by Cecil Beaton shows a Peterboro Basket Co. basket on her bicycle. Their handmade, classic looks and the opportunity to support a local (to me) and American-made basket company were just a few of the reasons I went to them to design the Classic Picnic Basket for the shop.

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I was thrilled to have a tour of their factory in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Would you like a peek inside?

We began our tour in the shipping area and progressed into the seemingly endless manufacturing area. We walked and walked through the work stations and past more baskets than I’ve ever seen in my life. Some were finished. Others were in various states of completion. Dim light came from the tall windows on the edges of the factory and cast a beautiful light on the ash wood basket strips which were piled high and hanging from every surface.

Large steaming machines, used in the process of bending wood, filled one area with a steamy warmth. The air smelled of fresh, wood shavings. I love the smell of freshly cut wood, because it’s more than an aroma — it’s a scent, but it’s also the smell of progress and creativity working together.

We paused to watch an artisan’s deft fingers quickly weaving ash strips into a basket. What artistry and skill.

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From the days when their baskets were delivered via horse and cart to now, Peterboro Basket Co. has consistently made beautiful, handwoven baskets. They are the oldest, continuous manufacturer of baskets in America.

And I am just thrilled to say that the Classic Picnic Basket in the shop was handmade right here in their New Hampshire factory. They were pleased to make just the basket I envisioned and that I knew from experience would be the most useful for you…roomy, sturdy, timeless/classic styling, and with the added shelf in the bottom. So proud to collaborate with this iconic, American company!