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A fishing basket or creel should be actually be more aptly named a fish basket. Typically it is a small basket made out of wicker or a similar, natural, material and used by anglers and fishermen to carry their freshly caught fish, crayfish etc. It is a simple transportable cooler that works with the system of evaporation. The basket is lined out with moss and dipped into water. The lid has a slot through which the freshly caught fish is inserted and which is hold in place with a leather strap. A second, larger, leather strap allows the angler to carry the basket and to lower it from time to time in the water. The water evaporates and cools so the basket plus containing fish. Please kill the fish before inserting it, if not you only prolong its suffering. Keep a live fish in such a basket is forbidden in many countries as it is considered animal cruelty.
Vintage fishing or creel baskets and their replicas are nowadays sought after pieces of decoration and interior design. They are used to decorate fish restaurants, lodges and homes of avid anglers. They are often combined with flowers or with other vintage fishing and angling gear. True vintage baskets are expensive, but nice replicas are easily obtained and will last longer and look better. Another plus is that they don’t need any restoration work done to them. Broken wicker and deteriorated straps are two common problems with true vintage fishing baskets. A so-called antiqued basket means that it is actually brand new, but just looks old in style, vintage or retro look so to say.
Items like this look best when the rest of the room and / or display also is in the same theme. So, together with your vintage fishing basket you might want to consider to display also old fishing and angling books, lures and rods, photos and paintings. A few chosen items and your fishing lodge becomes a true work of the art of interior design. It doesn’t need a lot to achieve this, just a few items and a bit of creativity go a long way to create a fishing theme.
