Tobacco baskets were originally used to transport drying sheds to the tobacco market. Today these baskets are used for table and wall decor for an upscale farmhouse look. Our tobacco baskets are made of natural chip wood.
What is a tobacco basket?
It is known throughout this region as a tobacco basket. The tobacco basket was used, until about 1980, to display tobacco taken to market. The crop is grown throughout North Carolina, primarily on family farms. According to the NC Dept. of Agriculture, North Carolina farmers today produce approximately 2/3 of the US crop of flue-cured tobacco.
What happened to tobacco baskets?
Tobacco baskets were used up until the 1980s to take tobacco to market. They have a huge history in North Carolina and with them rapidly disappearing, there is not much else to do but either buy a replica, or make on of your own.
How do you decorate a shelf with a tobacco basket?
Layer within a shelf. Tobacco baskets can be a great decor item to layer within a styled shelf. They can add height and interesting texture to an otherwise boring space. For tips on pretty shelf styling, be sure to check out this previous blog post. 5.
What is a hand of tobacco?
A hand of tobacco is a group of leaves tied together at the stem end. The end is wrapped in another cured leaf. The hands were then laid in the tobacco basket in a circle with the stem ends pointing to the outside. The baskets were then loaded and taken to the tobacco warehouse where they were sold at auction.
What can you do with a tobacco basket?
0:546:28How to Decorate Tobacco Baskets - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you might want to mix it up and come up with some new ideas. So we're gonna give you two reallyMoreSo you might want to mix it up and come up with some new ideas. So we're gonna give you two really quick ideas actually three yeah three really quick ideas on what you can do to decorate.
What are tobacco baskets made out of?
The tobacco baskets (40” x 40”) were made of oak that was split into strips. The oak strips were soaked in boiling soda water to make them bendable. The rim of the basket was fashioned with a double thickness Page 2 of the strips.
How do you clean a tobacco basket?
Step 1: Lay a tarp down on your work area surface and gather your supplies. Step 2: Gently clean your old tobacco basket with a brush or the brush attachment from your vacuum cleaner. I used a brush first, then followed up by using our Dust Buster just to make sure the tobacco basket was free from dirt and debris.
Does Hobby Lobby have tobacco baskets?
Distressed Brown Wood Tobacco Basket - Large | Hobby Lobby | 80921875. FREE SHIPPING* on orders of $50 or more.
Can you spray paint a tobacco basket?
Paint or Stain the Basket Use the wood accelerator or your choice of stain and a Super Finish Max paint sprayer and Small Spray Shelter to stain the basket. Let dry completely before using.
How do you make a mini tobacco basket?
0:504:51DIY Mini Tobacco Basket Easter Decor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd so that's kind of what you see me doing here. So i'm just getting it all glued. Together.MoreAnd so that's kind of what you see me doing here. So i'm just getting it all glued. Together.
Why is it called a tobacco basket?
They have a rich history and add a cool country yet modern vibe to any room. Tobacco baskets date back to the 1800s and were used to keep tobacco off the floor when storing the tobacco leaves in the warehouse. They were also used to take tobacco to the local markets.
How do I attach a tobacco basket to the wall?
First, place seasonal. Next, gently apply pressure as you stick it to the wall. If you have some small signs that don't have a home on tables, counters, or look too small on your wall, add them to a tobacco basket with hot glue or some wire… Hook basket onto both nails to hang (image 1).
How do you clean a hand woven basket?
Clean the wicker basket with the damp microfiber cloth, taking care to get into the weave and tackle the base of the basket. Wipe the basket down with a fresh microfiber cloth or let it air dry. Make sure the wicker is completely dry before placing any items back inside.
How do you clean a tobacco pipe bowl?
Every few or so bowl Ensure your pipe is completely cool. Then, use alcohol (rubbing alcohol works, but we prefer rum or brandy) to clean the pipe more thoroughly. Soak a paper towel in your alcohol of choice and rub it inside the bowl. Then, soak a pipe cleaner in the alcohol and run it through the stem a few times.
How do you clean a dirty wicker basket?
Mix a few drops of dish soap in a gallon of warm water. Moisten your cloth in the soapy water and continue to gently wipe down the wicker. A firm hand might rub away some of the wicker coloring. Air dry completely, outdoors preferably, before using again.
How do you care for a hand woven basket?
Never immerse a basket in water – this risks removing some of the patina. Soaking a basket can also result in swelling and popping of the weave. If a deeper cleaning is needed, use a damp, soft cotton cloth and gently blot the basket weave, then let the basket dry completely.
What is a tobacco basket?
The tobacco basket was used, until about 1980, to display tobacco taken to market. The crop is grown throughout North Carolina, primarily on family farms. According to the NC Dept. of Agriculture, North Carolina farmers today produce approximately 2/3 of the US crop of flue-cured tobacco. Tobacco is a very labor-intensive crop.
Who owned the tobacco baskets?
The baskets were owned by the warehouse or the Board of Trade, a consortium of tobacco companies. The company name was stencilled onto the edge of the basket.
How much does a hand of tobacco weigh?
A hand of tobacco weighed about 1 pound if made of tips or lugs and about 2 - 3 pounds if made from cutters. A hand of tobacco is a group of leaves tied together at the stem end. The end is wrapped in another cured leaf.
How are tobacco leaves picked?
Tobacco is a very labor-intensive crop. The leaves are picked by hand, starting at the bottom of the stalk. In the old days, the leaves were then carried to the tobacco barn where they were hand-tied onto to sticks about 3 feet long. The sticks were then placed in tiers in the tobacco barn. A fire was lit and the leaves were cured to a rich golden color in the barn.
Where were the hands laid in the tobacco basket?
The hands were then laid in the tobacco basket in a circle with the stem ends pointing to the outside. The baskets were then loaded and taken to the tobacco warehouse where they were sold at auction. The song of the tobacco auction is another story altogether.
Where are the tips on tobacco?
Tips are from the top of the plant; cutters, about half as long as your arm, are from the center of the stalk; lugs are from the bottom. There are 216 different grades of tobacco. After sorting and grading, the leaves were tied into "hands.".
Is tobacco a controversial topic?
We realize that tobacco is a controversial subject. We are not promoting the use of tobacco here, merely reporting on a type of basket which is fast disappearing and one which is an important part of history in North Carolina.
When were tobacco baskets used?
Tobacco baskets were used up until the 1980s to take tobacco to market. They have a huge history in North Carolina and with them rapidly disappearing, there is not much else to do but either buy a replica, or make on of your own.
Can you use scissors for hanging baskets?
You can easily used scissors for this. I wanted to make a large basket to hang above my bed, and sadly I did not measure out what size I wanted, so I will give you the measurements of what it ended up being.
Can you make your own tobacco baskets?
Did you know that you can make your own tobacco baskets? What if I told you that they could be made with a super inexpensive material, and that you probably have the tools you need sitting in your office! Try this super easy DIY tobacco baskets tutorial. Make them for a fraction of the cost that they are in the store!
Can you mold reeds in a basket?
Now, if your basket isn’t exactly square or needs a little coaxing, you can bend and mold the reed pieces while they are still slightly wet from the stain. You can also spray them with water before you stain them and do it then.
How to change up a basket?
Change it up a bit by flipping the basket on it’s side and hanging a wreath from the center. You can do so by take a piece of wire, looping it through and twisting it in the back. Then if you change up your mind later, you can always remove it. Add it to a shelf or a fireplace mantel as a feature decor piece.
Can you hang a tobacco basket on a wall?
I’d say this is the most popular way I’ve seen tobacco baskets used. You can hang on a wall just the basket itself to keep it simple. Or you can attach some faux florals or include multiple baskets to display as a form of wall art.
What is tobacco basket?from carolinacountry.com
From the floor of the warehouse to the walls of your house. Tobacco baskets, once a common utilitarian product in the tobacco markets , have become a hot commodity as wall art in homes across the country.
Where were tobacco baskets made?from carolinacountry.com
The first baskets were made in Kentucky, but North Carolina became the primary producer of tobacco baskets by the late 1800s. There were at least six manufacturers of tobacco baskets in Yadkin County at one time, earning it the title of "Tobacco Basket Capital of the World.". Tobacco was first exported from the colonies in huge wooden barrels ...
What were the baskets made of?from carolinacountry.com
The baskets were made of oak that was split into strips. The oak strips were soaked in boiling soda water to make them bendable. The rim of the basket was fashioned with a double thickness of the strips. The bottoms were woven by machine, and another machine helped with putting the bottoms and the rims together. The tobacco companies purchased the baskets, and their names were stenciled on the rims.
Why did they use baskets in the auction houses?from carolinacountry.com
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is credited with coming up with the idea of using large flat baskets to keep their tobacco clean in the auction houses.
How was tobacco exported?from carolinacountry.com
Tobacco was first exported from the colonies in huge wooden barrels called hogsheads. The barrels held about 1,000 pounds of the leaves. But the barrels made inspecting difficult and therefore cheating easy. The good leaves were packed on top, hiding inferior tobacco in the bottom of the barrel. Some crooked producers even went so far as to hide rocks and bricks under the tobacco. Eventually the hogshead method of marketing gave way to loose leaf auctions and private sales. Baskets were used to take tobacco to market even then, but apparently once it reached the warehouse the tobacco was placed on the floor.
How many hands per stick of tobacco?from carolinacountry.com
After tobacco was picked and graded, several leaves were bound together in what were called hands. The hands were tied onto a stick (about 35-45 hands per stick) and the sticks of tobacco were hung in the barn to cure. After curing, the tobacco was taken off the stick, packed in baskets and transported to the market.
When did the tobacco basket market close?from carolinacountry.com
This pretty much spelled the end for the tobacco basket market, and by 1969 the basket companies had closed. The J.A. Miller Basket Company reopened in 1976 to make baskets for the burley tobacco market, but by 1990 that market had also faded. Bud Miller, the son of J. Anderson Miller, who started the company in 1945, still makes a small number of tobacco baskets, some full size and a miniature version, which are bought and resold in shops to decorators and homeowners to use in homes as wall art.