Vintage Fisherman's Basket 
 16”w x 10"d x 9”h
Wood (Split Reed), Leather 
© Vintage Winter

This is a superb example of a 1940s George Lawrence fishing creel. The George Lawrence Company (GLCo), founded in 1867, was the premier leather goods manufacturer of its era renowned for exceptional craftsmanship in saddles, harnesses, gun holsters, cartridge belts, fishing creels, and more.

From 1923 to 1953, GLCo produced what many consider the finest fishing creels in the world, shipping them to anglers across the globe. While the wicker baskets themselves were imported, each was finished with rugged, high-quality leather designed to provide decades of reliable use. As catch-and-release practices became more widespread, the utilitarian need for creels gradually declined. Still, the concept of a gathering basket dates back millennia, and George Lawrence, along with a small number of Oregon leather shops, is credited with elevating the design into the modern, highly collectible form we know today.

This particular creel dates to the 1940s and remains in excellent original condition. It also includes its original George Lawrence leather shoulder strap, a feature not often found intact.