Charming, traditional, French wicker winnowing basket with original wooden handles, circa 1830-1850. Winnowing baskets were traditionally used by peasant farmers to separate grain from the chaff (the inedible covering found on the grain). Wheat would be placed in this basket on a breezy day and the barn doors would be left wide open, they would hold the flat side of the basket against their body and toss the wheat into the air, allowing the wind to sweep away the chaff.
Ideal to use as a decorative “harvest basket” style food presentation piece, or as a wall hanging.
