French Gathering Basket

A basket like this went out to the garden empty and came back full, of herbs cut for supper, a handful of eggs, whatever the morning gave. Found in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, it stands small in the hand, woven of wicker around a single branch left whole for a handle. The French call it a panier, a gathering basket, made small to carry what a garden gives in a single trip, the handle just a branch someone chose for the bend already in it. Sylvie would keep it by the door for lemons and garden clippings, or fill it with flowers and carry them in.