Tray, Hand-Painted Woven Grass Winnowing Basket, Robin on Branch, Black Oval, American Vintage 1940s–50s

Against a sleek black woven grass ground, a robin perches on a fruit tree branch — painted by hand, with the kind of unhurried confidence that belongs to another era entirely. This is a winnowing basket, a form as old as agriculture, elevated here into something that reads as quietly sophisticated wall art or a statement decorative tray.

• Material: Woven wicker / grass, hand-painted
• Dimensions: 19.25"L × 13"W (at widest)
• Origin: USA
• Era: 1940s–1950s (estimated)
• Condition: Very good vintage. No notable issues beyond age-appropriate wear. Please review all photos — all sales final.

Handmade and hand-painted, estimated to the 1940s–50s, it is oval, substantial (nearly 20 inches long), and in very good condition for its age. The contrast of the naturalistic bird against the graphic black weave is the sort of thing that looks intentional in any setting — over a mantle, on a kitchen wall, leaned against a shelf, or displayed flat as a centerpiece tray.

A rare and distinctive piece for the bird lover, the folk art collector, or anyone who curates their home with an eye for the unexpected.

Winnowing baskets were originally farm tools, woven from grass or wicker to separate grain from chaff by hand — a functional shape that mid-century folk artists and craftspeople later repurposed as a canvas for decorative painting, turning agricultural objects into pieces meant purely for display.

Browse our shop for more vintage hand-painted folk art to round out your collection.