Longaberger Baskets

Greetings from the PurplePatty.com Community! The Longaberger family business, the Ohio Ware Company started out making ware baskets for the pottery industry under the supervision of John Wendall Longaberger. His son, Dave was first busy as an owner of Harry's Dairy Bar and an IGA Foodliner in Dresden, Ohio.

It wasn't until Dave had an idea and asked his father to make him some sample baskets that he could take to the retail establishments and see if they would stock them for sale. It was a success and this led Dave to open J.W.'s Handwoven Baskets.

One of the amazing additions to the Longaberger Company was when they opened the seven-story market basket building in Newark, Ohio. It is so impressive when you're driving up the road and it catches your eye, because it looks so much like a real seven-story huge market basket with little windows in between the weave.

Now when it comes to collecting baskets, you need to do your own research on which baskets may be collectible. Longaberger lays claim to handmade craft ancestry and I am sure the mass production of baskets use those guidelines, but we can't forget that the company sold 7.7 million baskets in 1997. So, you will have your work cut out for you finding that basket that may become a rarity for your collection.

Here's to a day full of Shopping and Smiles!
From your Super Shopper,
Purple Patty