The Balloon — A Thought on French HeritageThe French Art of Beautiful Storage
On our 2025 summer trip to Dordogne, France, it was clear that baskets are a common part of daily life. In the village markets and along the sunlit streets of Sarlat-la-Canéda, Corinne and I saw them stacked high on tables, tucked beneath counters, and woven into daily commerce.
Sarlat is a beautifully classic French town — here is Corinne beside a row of handwoven baskets during a weekday market.
The role of baskets in daily French life
Before even the era of Medieval France, baskets carried produce from market, logs to the hearth, and linens to be aired in the sun. They were equally at home in the kitchen — resting against stone walls, holding vegetables, herbs, or kindling — practical tools in daily life long before they became decorative accents.
Here is a reconstructed kitchen we saw when visiting the Medieval chateau Beynac Castle, with baskets clearly part of daily use lined up along the hearth.
Newly arrived and in stock at our Houston Shop
We’ve just received a wide assortment of round and cube baskets in sizes generous and petite at our Houston Shop. Some are structured and architectural, others softer and organic.
You can even bring home a staple of daily French life — we have plenty of the classic French market bag.
We invite you to come visit us at our Houston Shop to see the selection in person — and if a particular size speaks to you, call the shop and we will gladly set it aside for you!
À bientôt!
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