Mid-20th Century Handwoven Charente “Bourgne” Basket - 12½"

This rounded French bourgne from the Charente region on the Atlantic coast is handwoven in contrasting tones, its lighter coiled reed body bound and stitched with darker hazelwood to create a beautiful play of texture and color. The surface now shows a mellow, timeworn patina inside and out, with light staining, scattered frays and minor losses that speak to its long service. Rooted in the folk art and basketry traditions of western France, this piece belongs to a lineage of utilitarian yet beautifully crafted wares once made across the western French Coast from Brittany to Charente. Local artisans gathered hazelwood and coastal reeds, handworking them into resilient, time-tested forms.

Traditionally used as a pantry or gathering basket, even used for shoreline gleaning, the bourgne held fruit, grain, or potatoes, its dense coiled structure providing remarkable strength for everyday use. Today it brings authentic texture and rustic warmth to both country and contemporary interiors. Use it as a cachepot for dried flowers, a kindling basket by the hearth, or a sculptural catchall in an entry or mudroom.