French Country · Encyclopedia · Tableware, Kitchen and Decorative Objects
Egg Basket
Wire and wicker baskets for collecting eggs.
Baskets & Wicker · Indicative US retail $30–$300
At a glance
- Family: Baskets & Wicker
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1880 to 1950.
- Typical price: about $90; range $30 to $300 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Wire work, size
What it is
Wire egg baskets were used on farms to gather eggs from the henhouse, carry them to market and even wash them by dipping the whole basket in water. French paniers à œufs were hand-twisted from galvanized or tinned wire by traveling wireworkers (tréfileurs) and farm families, in round, oval and domed shapes with folding handles; American farms used chicken-shaped wire baskets and collapsible "egg crates." Today they are prized as sculptural kitchen and garden objects.
How to identify and date it
An old basket is twisted by hand, with slightly uneven loops, wraps and spirals, and shows gray patina with spots of rust. Check for broken or missing wires, a sagging base and handles that no longer fold. New wire baskets sold as vintage are machine-made, perfectly regular and often powder-coated. Size and the complexity of the wirework drive value.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1880 to 1950.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most egg basket examples ask around $90. Simple or worn pieces start near $30, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $300. The main value drivers are: wire work, size. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Check wires and handles
- Look for hand twisting
- Inspect rust
Living with it
An egg basket holds fruit, eggs, onions, yarn or kitchen linens; hung from a beam, a group of baskets adds farmhouse texture.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.