Arte & Cuoio Woven Basket

 

Arte & Cuoio, founded in 1969,  is known for their expert craftsmanship with home leather goods.  All the hides they use are procured from Santa Croce sull'Arno and Ponte at Egola between Florence and Pisa in Tuscany.  Their leather products are dyed in Tuscany using traditional methods from 19th century.  The leather is tanned using chestnut bark and mimosa extracts, and is then placed in wooden barrels to soak up animal fat to grease it, after which it is then left to dry naturally before polishing with amber.  The strong Danish thread which is hand sewn onto all their products are decorative as well as functional.   


One of my favorite product from them is their woven basket.  It's large enough to hold all unread magazines, yet elegant enough to be displayed out in the open.  I've also seen them being used as holders for fireplace logs or just as catch-all baskets.  The way their basket is braided reminds me of a little bit of Bottega Veneta's handbags.  This is a beautiful basket that you will enjoy for years to come.  I know I have mine for over a decade and I still use it daily.  It's a worthwhile investment.   The basket can be found at Barney's New York.