A Hands-On Guide to Gift Baskets

Gift baskets boast a long, storied heritage with ties to cultures from around the globe.  Ancient Native Americans used the cornucopia, filled with indigenous fruits and food items, to welcome visitors.  Horns of plenty also served as sacrifices to various gods in exchange for healthy crops,
fair weather and male offspring.

In western Europe, gift baskets have been highly prized since the medieval age.  At Christmas, the wealthy feasted on baskets of citrus fruits, figs and nuts.  The gift basket figures prominently in art history as one of the most popular subjects for painting and sculpture.  Dutch painter Ambrosius Bosschaert's Fruit Basket is a classic example
of Baroque-era still life.

Today, gift baskets remain a staple of benevolence, representing kinship and generosity. 
Their versatility makes them appropriate gifts
for family, friends and coworkers alike.