Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Bottle Baskets of Darlington

Today's post, Dear Reader, is about bottle baskets.  Bottle baskets?  Yes, you read that correctly.


Ten or so years ago, Boy and I were out trolling the antiques shops in the surrounding area.  In a junk store, among the dross, Boy came across a dusty, old-fashioned rectangular wicker basket with an arched handle and internal dividers.  It was tagged for five dollars.

"What do you think?" he asked, holding it up for me to examine.

"I'm not so sure about that," I said.  "What would we use it for?"

"For what's it's made, silly, for carrying wine bottles, of course!" Boy responded as he handed it to the fellow who ran the shop.


I became a convert in short order, and since then we've acquired half a dozen or so bottle baskets.  And we use them frequently and for their intended purpose—to carry and store bottles.  They are attractive and sturdy little workhorses.  We keep one on the floor in our kitchen, next to Pompey's basket, filled with bottles of San Pellegrino.  We use others to bring bottles of wine up the stairs from our wine cellar for luncheons, dinners, and parties.  We've picked up all of these baskets at tag sales and group shoppes, usually for less than twenty dollars apiece.


Bottle baskets are particularly useful to have in an entertaining household.  During parties our caterer's staff find them most convenient and aesthetically pleasing for shuttling chilled bottles of white wine and Prosecco upstairs from our basement refrigerator to the bar set up in the center hall.  We have a large, two-handled one that holds twelve bottles, perfect for red wine at a porch or dinner party.  It is very decorative and looks more festive than bottles simply arrayed on a table.  You will notice that I'm showing it empty of wine bottles, though, because we . . . uh . . .  drank it all.

Photographs by Boy Fenwick

22 comments:

  1. They really are lovely and simple. I have eyed them over the years and just never seem to have a good spot for one that is not in the way. Mine would have empties most of the time too!

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    1. Hello Kelly, Ours aren't out, except when we have them filled with bottles. So, go ahead and get one or two, and stash them in the basement (as we do in our wine cellar) when not in use! Thanks for your comment -- Reggie

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  2. I own a bottle basket which I take on car trips when I'm traveling alone. I put it on the seat next to me and use it for everything from bottles to road maps. Essentially, it works as a useful and fashionable trip organizer.

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  3. Wine cellar -somehow how I am not managing to move on from that little gem; I think I must insist that you and boy adopt me in later years!

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  4. Lovely. One could use them for recycling, too, if one wanted to be unredeemably refined...

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  5. Bottle baskets restored to chic-hood! I'm thinking a good host/hostess gift. I agree with Mark. . .every good car should have one.
    Thanks for the post. . .

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  6. delightful. and charming!

    Cheers,
    Scot

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  7. I'm with Tabitha! How about it Reggie? I can though imagine a suited gentleman carrying that large one. A footman on the butler's instructions?

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  8. Something weird is happening Reggie, noticed Tabitha's first comment is no longer here,nor is mine. However, it does give me another chance to talk to you though. That large basket really has taken my fancy, can each section take a magnum? must be heavy when loaded, a two person job?

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  9. Such a good idea when you're living in a place that has more than one level, (but not quite so necessary when you're in a flat, as I'm sure you'd agree for your Manhattan arrangements). I think I would find them most useful when travelling in car, as they would prevent bottles rolling around. But I'm quite keen on anything wicker; I have open baskets that I used for miniature mixers in the upstairs sitting room, next to the drinks tray, when we lived in UK. Now they are used for unsorted papers, and a hamper from Fortnum's which I used for other storage. But we're less "rustic" aesthetically here, so everything is stored out of sight.

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  10. Interesting you should raise this issue today. This weekend I helped out at the Sharon (CT) Historical Society Attic Sale. I noticed a collection of lovely old baskets of the picnic variety but I was a bit put off by their overall unappealing (ie dirty) presentation. What would you use to clean an old basket so that you wouldn't feel you needed a tetanus shot before going out for your 4th of July picnic? BTW, a certain prominent local resident (CR) always de-clutters her house and design collection at this sale, so it's something to keep in mind for the future.

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  11. No need to convert me - I am a fan! Useful, inexpensive and charming - what more can you ask for?

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  12. I have something similar that looks like it's used for carrying glasses. The holes are too small for bottles. It looks quite handy!

    xo

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  13. These are lovely...I'm going to start keeping an eye out for them...

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  14. Wonderful. I have a wire basket that I adore....for holding wine.
    Of course, I do prefer a full bottle over the empty ones.
    pve

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  15. I have one, only one, and do not know what I did without it! I love your 4 bottle basket...that may have to be my next purchase!

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  16. What a very elegant and practical solution and one that I shall have to adopt. The wine gods will be most pleased.

    When we moved into our house (built in 1925), we were excited to discover the shelves of the basement's wine cellar had been marked with chalk around the room, beginning with the year 1926. We concluded that the owners were storing and drinking their wine right through the prohibition years of the roaring twenties. What fun people they must have been - I'll toast to that!

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  17. I need to be on the lookout for these bottle baskets.
    I can't remember if I left a comment on the final installment about your family history but I found it very thought provoking. They say everyone has a story - thanks for sharing your father's and it's meaning for you.

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  18. Have a wonderful 4th of July Reggie and Boy. Of course already the 4th where I am

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  19. Reggie your bottle baskets are fab, I have some and use them in the same way, one smaller basket I use beside the stove for olive oil etc makes standing in front of the dreaded thing a bit more pleasurable.....sort of.

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  20. Oh my, I discovered a bottle basket in a ramshakle out building at a tag sale advertised on Craigs list. The former Navy Man asked 5 dollars which I casually handed to him ( Deep down I was so excited) Now reading your post here a month later after my purchase-- I am elated --it is vintage most definitely-- as it is very sturdy to hold six bottles. I no doubt walked past shelves of these in the 1980s at the early rendition of a PierOne Import store remember those - the early inventory was good stuff back then I did not have the eye to see into the future

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    1. Thank you, Anon, for your comment and story. What a find you got! And I agree with you, Pier One was terrific in the late sixties and into the 70s, when it was a true bazaar of wonderful, imported decorative stuff. Sadly no longer. Several years ago we stopped into Todd Alexander Romano's teddibly chic decorating shop on upper Lexington Avenue and saw a marveous little trio of miniature stacking bamboo tables, for sale for $350. When we remarked on how much we liked them, the salesgirl said "Yes! They're vintage -- they used to sell those at Pier One in the 1970s!" Well, at those lofty prices one can live without vintage Pier One tables, no matter how charming. So, several weeks later, while trolling a large junktiques group shoppe guess what did I come across, but an identical ittle trio of the same tables, still reatining their old Pier One paper labels. Asking $25, the dealer volunteered (without any prompting on my part) that he would sell them to me for $20. Needless to say, I bought them!! Thanks, Reggie

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