historique
Handcrafted near Nantes
Published on 24-04-25
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The basket of yesteryear revisited
historique
Published on: 24-04-2025
In the land of menhirs and the Roche aux Fées, in the heart of timeless Brittany, the company Atelier Aertgeerts has been carrying on tradition since 1923 through the artisanal crafting of wire mesh harvest baskets. More precisely, in Martigné-Ferchaud, near Rennes. There, Aude Aertgeerts nurtures a unique expertise passed down through three generations, each adapting it to the needs and tastes of their time.
Now at the head of the company, Aude is the heir to a rare and demanding craft once thought forgotten: wire weaving.
The woven iron basket was once used for all kinds of harvests, especially for gathering apples for cider in Normandy—hence its nickname, the "Norman Basket."
A story of passion, a family story, a story rooted in the land. This basket from days gone by is still entirely handmade in Aude's workshop, by Aude herself. The technique was brought from Germany by her maternal grandfather, then passed on to her father René Aertgeerts in 1976. Now working alone but fortified by this unique heritage, Aude keeps this craft alive—without her, it would no longer exist. And she doesn’t shy away from the hard work! It took her father forty years of perseverance to establish the value of handcrafted quality over mass imports.
“It was after a career change that I was drawn to this trade, which is tough, but also a way to make life meaningful, close to people and real life,” René Aertgeerts always said.
“It’s also about defending a modest yet deeply rich artisanal heritage—rich with the passion of my grandfather and my dearly beloved father, without whom this craft would no longer exist in France… So how could I not be grateful to our customers, who, through their support over the years, chose quality and craftsmanship over careless consumption and the loss of a profession?”
All this expertise for an object that is both humble and philosophical: the basket, in its triple essential function—gathering, carrying, and sharing. A true embodiment of human generosity in a single item! And today, it has even gained a trendy decorative dimension—interior designers are wild about it!
In the land of the Roche aux Fées, ancient knowledge keeps the flame alive. Gestures filled with human, authentic values—and kindness, too. Thanks to these artisans who act as guardians of tradition. Aude Aertgeerts is one of them.