Looking for iconic Southern charm?
Vintage & Exclusive
Saddle Leather Baskets,
Trays, Bowls
& Copper Liners
​Looking for that client gift that boldly impresses while saying Thank You!
In 1999 Melvin Valkner viewed an episode of the Antique Roadshow® where a woman from Durham, N.C. brought in a well-worn, thick-leather basket that she was very fond of as it had belonged to her great-great-grandmother.
Appraiser Nancy Druckman of Sotheby’s explained that leather “key baskets” are artifacts of American Southern Culture. They were originally made in the U.S. South by saddle makers and leather workers in the early 1800s and given to young betrothed women as symbols of their new role as keeper of the keys – gatekeeper of the homestead.
Intrigued, Melvin contacted Ms. Druckman and discovered Sotheby’s had auctioned an antique thick-leather basket for $60,000. She said they were rare and not made any longer.
BAEKS Leather & Copper Group
All BAEKS products make for great wedding gifts, Christmas presents, housewarming gifts and other special occasions, destined to become valuable family heirlooms for any decorating style.
Each basket is made with old-fashioned expertise from thick, vegetable tanned, full-grained American saddle leather (almost 1/4" thick). No two are exactly alike.
BAEKS Genuine Craftsmanship
BAEKS Collectability
Each basket has a unique number for collectability except for the Legacy Set - where all three sizes have the same identical number!
Every basket comes with a thick-leather hang tag embossed with its history.
BAEKS Hang Tag
Working in Valkner's Shoe Store and leather repair shop their parents owned in Otsego, MI, Melvin and Donald grew up appreciating leather at an early age.
They decided to renew this unique and beautiful Southern American Art. They contracted with an Amish firm well known for their time-honored craftsmanship. Before the design was finalized it was critiqued by Art Professor John MacDonald to ensure the greatest level of beauty, even to how many rows of thread should be used.
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Together they created three sizes of BAEKS leather baskets.
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Size: 3 1/2” sides, 6 1/2” long, 7” tall to top of handle.
BAEKS Cottage Basket
Sold Out!
Size: 5” sides, 10” long, 11” tall to top of handle
BAEKS Manor Basket
$3,895
BAEKS Estate Basket
The Estate basket is just awesome. Beautiful yet tough.
Size: 7 1/2” sides, 14 1/2” long, 15 1/2” tall to top of handle.
$3,895
They are indeed "Built to Last."​
A Manor basket was sent to Ms. Druckman as a thank you for the idea and her input. She wrote back calling her basket an “Antique of the Future.” BAEKS baskets are made to endure the test of time with style. Texas leather expert Wray Thompson who was so impressed he estimated the minimum life to be 300 years! That’s a lot of family history sure to be passed on!
BAEKS Basket Legacy Set
A Legacy Set has all three sizes with the same identical number!
Using only the finest American full-grain ¼” thick saddle leather,
Chicago screws and five-cord nylon thread the craftsmanship is truly remarkable. We’re very proud of that.
$12,895
BAEKS Copper Liner Set
Our brother Charles Valkner artfully hand cut and welded 100% copper liners to fit into each size basket, but look terrific standing alone. And yes, these are made completely of heavy copper!
Each has a lacquer finish to maintain its luster for years to come.
Cottage Liner Price $295
Manor Liner Price $395
Estate Liner Price $495​
BAEKS Hand Sewn Leather Trays
Donald’s own skills really show in these trays (two sizes). He made each from a single piece of custom cut saddle leather. Donald mitered each corner and hand stitched them. Unbelievable quality!
Cottage Tray Price $295
Manor Tray Price $395
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BAEKS Molded Thick Leather Bowls
Here is another example of Donald’s creative skill set. He took leather pads, put them in hot water, then he quickly pressed them into bowls while the leather was still warm. They dried extremely hard yet maintaining shape and their saddle leather appearance.
Manor Bowl Size: 7" diameter
Price $195
About 800 BAEKS baskets in total were made from 1999-2001.
Production was discontinued and most were sold at that time. Due to Donald’s untimely death the rest have sat in storage.
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We are now offering the remaining vintage and exclusive baskets, leather goods and copper liners – and they look just as gorgeous as the day they were made more than two decades ago! Get yourself an authentic piece of America before they’re all gone. All BAEKS quantities are truly limited as the dies have been destroyed.
Yours truly,
Melvin Valkner
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I am confident you will enjoy your purchase for decades to come!