A French wire egg basket (*panier à œufs*), hand-formed in iron wirework (*fil de fer*) featuring a bulbous, gourd-shaped body constructed from spiral wire bound by vertical wire ribs. The base is fitted with integrated wire loop feet for elevation and stability, and the top is mounted with a tall hinged bail handle with a coiled wire handgrip.

Historical & Style Details

• Object Type: Wire egg basket / gathering basket
• Period: Early 20th Century
• Origin: France
• Material / Technique: Hand-formed iron wirework (*fil de fer*)
• Decorative Details: Bulbous gourd-shaped body, integrated wire loop feet, coiled wire handle grip
• Colour & Surface: Aged dark grey patina with light surface oxidation
• Condition: Intact wire structure with overall light surface oxidation and natural aged patina consistent with age

History

Wirework gathering baskets of this classic bulbous shape, traditionally crafted in France as *paniers à œufs*, were ubiquitous on late 19th- and early 20th-century rural European farms. Their open lattice construction permitted freshly collected eggs or produce to be dipped in water, rinsed, and left to dry naturally without removing them from the container. Today, early examples of utilitarian *fil de fer* wirework are highly sought after by collectors of antique country house kitchenalia and folk craft.