Episode 65 | The Antique Baskets You Should Be Hunting For

Episode 65 | The Antique Baskets You Should Be Hunting For

Author: Matt Ledbetter September 14, 2026 Duration: 1:33:32

Matt sits down with antique dealer and collector Laura Saville for a deep dive into old baskets, using examples from Matt’s collection and baskets Laura brought with her to answer a deceptively simple question: how do you know a good basket when you see one?

The episode starts with the best basket Matt says he has ever seen. They revisit footage from the Ledbetter Auctions sale, talk about the bidder who still regrets letting it go, and use it as the standard for what a truly great Appalachian basket can look and feel like.

From there, Matt and Laura work through a table full of Appalachian baskets and explain what they are actually looking at when they pick one up. Age, construction, rim wraps, handles, ribs, tie-offs, patina, materials, shape, condition, repairs, and even the way a basket feels in your hands can all help separate an average basket from a great one.

By the end, Matt has gone from showing Laura the baskets he knows best to letting her teach him what to hunt for next.

Chapters
00:00 | Laura Saville and the Basket Episode
04:00 | The Best Basket Matt Has Ever Seen
11:03 | How Old Is an Old Appalachian Basket?
14:30 | The $200 Basket Matt Wouldn’t Sell for $10,000
19:14 | Mary Prater and Recognizing a Basket Maker
23:19 | Mary Causby and Baskets to Hunt For
26:01 | Shelton Sisters, Damage and Condition
29:06 | How to Analyze an Antique Basket
36:17 | Cherokee River Cane Baskets
46:39 | Miniature Baskets and “Micro Minis”
57:55 | Painted Baskets
01:06:16 | Laura Picks Her Favorite Baskets
01:15:51 | Laura’s Baskets 
01:23:06 | Northwest Coast Baskets and Materials
01:27:27 | The Grandmother Basket

Laura is based in North Carolina and maintains a full-time booth at The Antique Marketplace in Greensboro, where you can find antique baskets and other pieces she has collected and sourced.

The Antique Marketplace
6428 Burnt Poplar Rd
Greensboro, NC 27409

Laura’s main booth is the first booth to the left behind the counter.
She also regularly sets up at regional antique shows, including the Tarheel Antiques Festival, Liberty Antique Festival, and Fishersville Antiques Expo.

Do you have an old basket, folk art collection, unusual antique, or something tucked away that deserves a closer look? Reach out and tell us what you have:

houseoffolkart@gmail.com
(919) 410-8002

Leave your name, where you are from, and any information you have about the item, artist, or collection. You might hear from us or see your story featured in a future episode.

Follow @houseoffolkart for more folk art stories, artist visits, collection deep dives, and new episodes, and find upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.


Matt Ledbetter lives in a world of vibrant paint, carved wood, and compelling stories. In House of Folk Art, this Gibsonville, North Carolina auctioneer and collector pulls up a chair to share that world, drawing directly from his deep connections within the Southern folk art community. His perspective is unique; because he organizes renowned quarterly auctions, Matt often knows the artists personally and has handled their work firsthand. This isn't a distant academic lecture. Instead, each episode feels like a conversation about the objects and the people who make them, exploring the intricate history behind the creations and the profound, often very personal, motivations that drive the artists. You’ll hear about intimate encounters and the small details that give this art its soul, from the choice of reclaimed materials to the narratives etched into the surface. Tuning into this podcast means getting a backstage pass to a living tradition, where every whirligig, portrait, or memory jug carries a fragment of cultural history. Matt’s guidance helps unravel the rich tapestry of this creative landscape, making the stories behind Southern folk art accessible and deeply engaging for anyone curious about the visual heritage of the region. The House of Folk Art podcast builds, piece by piece, a vivid understanding of why these works resonate so powerfully.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

House of Folk Art
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