The Longaberger basket company has been in business for over 35 years. These high quality, collector approved woven baskets are a rare find at flea markets and thrift stores. Like other designer products, manufacturers tend to make replicas and pass them off as the real thing. Avoid a high cost mistake by knowing tell a fake Longaberger basket from real one. Determine the authenticity by looking for the simple and subtle signs of a true Longaberger basket.
Instructions
1. Flip the basket over and look for the date, the weaver's initials and the Longaberger Company logo. All three should be located on the bottom exterior of the basket. If the basket does contain all three but the logo is scratched out or has a line through it, it is still real but it has been marked as flawed. Flawed baskets are less expensive than unflawed ones.
2. Hold the basket and determine the weight-- is it light or heavy? Longaberger baskets are made from hard maple wood and should feel heavy and solid. An imitation Longaberger will feel lighter and flimsy in your hands.
3. Observe the woven wood and determine if it is tightly woven or loose. Cheaply made Longaberger imitations will have loose woven wood and feel flimsy. If the wood is unraveling but the basket shows no sign of wear, it is an imitation.
4. Check the trim strip around the edges of the basket. If they are held on by tacks, then it is Longaberger. Imitation baskets will have the trim strip stapled on. Although very rare, Longaberger did manufacture some baskets with a stapled trim strip. If you feel the basket is authentic but has a stapled trim strip, it is best to contact Longaberger directly to verify the authenticity of the basket.
Tags: trim strip, Longaberger basket, stapled trim, stapled trim strip, will have, woven wood
