JW Longaberger PERSONALLY HANDWOVEN Market Basket

Thank you for looking!  Please see my other auctions and ebay store Char's Attic with over 400 items. This is an extremely rare authentic JW Longaberger handwoven Medium Market Basket personally woven by JW Longaberger for my friends great grandmother over 70 years ago, like 1939.  I'm listing this for my friend.  Here is the story of this basket.   His great grandmother would go to Dresden with a friend to do canning and purchase produce together.  Her friend knew JW and took her to puchase one of his baskets and she asked him for green and red design -- which you can faintly see as thru the years it has obviously faded.  JW loved weaving baskets and made many for his family and friends as back in those days baskets were used everyday as there no grocery bags.  As you can tell from the pictures it has been used as all JW baskets were back in those day, that's why he made them.  There are obvious character markings on the basket as you can see in the pictures.  A few weaves are cracked/broken/split and a splint on one end is broken from the many years of use, however it is still very strong and has plenty of use left.  When she passed away his grandmother inherited it as a family keepsake.  His grandmother died in 1991 and knowing his mom was an advid collector she left it to her.  When she passed away in 2006 with cancer her son and daughter inherited it and have had it's ownership for the past 3 years.  Wanting to be sure it's authentic my friend took it to the Homestead for JW's siblings to verify which they did by signing it.  If it's not an original they would not sign it.  The bottom has been recenty signed by Gary and Wendy Longaberger, two of JW's children and his granddaughter Tami, whom is now the president of The Longaberger Company.  It was while Tami was signing the basket that she mention it was over 70 years old, and there is one just like it hanging in the museum.  The owner of the basket is a big fan of the Cleveland Browns so when he had the opportunity to get Bernie Kosar's signature he did, as you can see all the signatures on the bottom.  All the signatures are recent, within a month.  What makes this basket extradorinary is his great grandmother asked JW for the red and green design -- very rare personal basket, perhaps one of a kind.   Other points of interest is the oak carved handle and 3 tacs inside and out --- note the top trim strip band started in the middle, and this basket has stuffers in the bottom, which is a thicker piece of wood, like cut bands between the splints to make it stronger.   This basket has been handed down in his family for 4 generations.  This is a very special sentimental heirloom, which explains the asking price.  Serious buyers only can call 740-632-0510 for more information.  All reasonable offers considered.  Shipping will include insurance.  This basket is sold as is and not returnable.  Please ask all questions before purchasing.  A fantactic Christimas present for anyone that appreciates a rare exclusive original JW basket.