Description
The carved nut baskets are made from acorns, walnuts and chestnuts, carefully carved into tiny baskets. A few have semiprecious stones attached and all are finished with a shiny coat of shellac. They were hand made by Deke Varney. The talent and skill to make each basket is even more incredible when you know that Mr. Varney only had one arm to carve with.
The baskets won two awards at the October 1916 West Milton community fair, a large, local event that pulled participants and the general public from most of the surrounding communities. It was the second West Milton community fair.
The baskets, a photo of Mr. Varney, and both awards in our collection.
FHS-Kyle Leach