Longaberger 1997 Hostess Large Gathering Basket with Leather Side Handles

An exceptional, highly collectible large-scale home storage piece featuring the 1997 Hostess Large Gathering Basket produced by Longaberger Baskets of Dresden, Ohio. This expansive utility basket was issued as an exclusive premium reward item specifically for corporate home show hostesses, making it a scarcer and highly sought-after open basket mold for regional enthusiasts and collectors.
Product Specifications & Features
Weave Structure: Robustly hand-assembled with heavy-gauge natural maple hardwood splints, showcasing a wide, deep open-top round basin shape engineered for blanket storage, laundry, or harvesting. Features a reinforced structural top rim secured with bright metallic tack fasteners. Equipped with two short, heavy-duty natural tan leather side carry handles anchored securely to the inner rim with rivets for easy lifting.
Protective Insert Track: Includes its heavy-duty, high-clarity form-fitting clear plastic interior protective liner. The clear base shields the expansive natural wood interior from staining, dust, or utility wear.
Dimensions
Top Rim Diameter: Measures an impressive 14 to 15 inches across.
Height: Stands approximately 10 to 11 inches tall (measured directly against the background leveling guide).
Markings & Literature
Authentic Story Booklet: Retains its original full-color multi-page product story pamphlet showing a close-up of a workshop artisan at a basket mold. The footer is stenciled with the official catalog model text reading “Classic Baskets™ / Longaberger® / Hostess Lg. Gathering 12564”.
Base Understructure: The smooth, wide interlocking wood base panels are clearly branded with the official corporate “Longaberger Baskets® / Handwoven / Dresden, Ohio USA” logo stamp. It is hand-signed with the unique weaver identification initials LMM and explicitly dated 1997.
Condition Report
Weave & Woodwork: Excellent, pristine collector-grade condition. The hardwood splints remain perfectly tight, uniform, and completely free of chips, splits, fracture lines, or water stains. The large woven base is flat and sturdy. The tan leather side grips remain fully supple with no dry-rotting or structural wear.
Plastics & Ephemera: The clear plastic interior protector is exceptionally bright, transparent, and entirely free of warping, cracks, or heavy utility scratching. The original factory paper story booklet remains sharp, clean, and fully legible.