Old Basket but how old? Help deciphering

I could use some help with the age of this basket and deciphering the words painted on the top. Measurements: 16.5", 10" wide and 9" tall.

I can't make out some of the lettering. It looks like ?? all fruiti, if enough, most heartily stuff, and the number 6. What do you see? Thank you!






This looks like "most heartily"

 

It doesn't make sense to me, but I'm seeing:

(something) all fruits, if enough, I most heartily stuff

???

 

ANTIQUE FEASTING.

" Old Lucullus, they say,

Forty cooks had each day,
And Vitellius's meals cost a million ;

But I like what is good

When or where be my food,
In a chop-house or royal pavilion.

"At all feasts (if enough)

I most heartily stuff,
And a song at my heart alike rushes,

Though I've not fed my lungs

Upon nightingales' tongues,
Nor the brains of goldfinches and thrushes."

Captain Morris's " Songs."

 

anundverkaufen Thank you! Like SBSVC, it made no sense to me. How on earth did you find that?

 

I finally had a chance to Google the song. I'm fairly certain my basket is not as old as the song.

Any clues to the age of the basket? Thank you.

 

I have an open basket with a fixed hoop handle of the same general construction, but smaller and without the top, that was my grandmother's. I remember her using one like it for clothes pins. The dark stains around the nails are the same too. I'd have to guess from the 20's or 30's? because it was already looking old when I was little (many, many years ago.)

Of course they were made like this for a long time, so it could be less than that by 10 or 20 years.

 

I found a several of these slatted lid with swing handles "picnic" style baskets in different sizes online. Several appear to have the same type hinges. The sellers are dating them from the 1920s to the 1970s. Many are stamped or burnt with the maker's name, Basketville in Putney, VT. That basket making business has been in business since the 1800s. Today most of their baskets are being made in China. Do look yours over for a possible maker's mark.

These double handle baskets came with a slat cover or solid cover. Today Basketville is selling ash woven picnic basket with birch plywood covers. I haven't a clue what yours is made from. Decorating the covers of this style "picnic" basket in early American or Penn. Dutch motif was in vogue in the 1940s and 50s. Follow are links to 3 "picnic" baskets like yours.

2 baskets: The top one has a slatted lid and hinges like yours - dated 1970s. Marked Basketville.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234116797/vintage-wooden-picnic-baskets

A large one with same lid and hinges. Dated only vintage and stamped with Basketville:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/238769...nic-basket-by-renowned?ref=unav_listing-other

Lid and hinges like yours - dated vintage 1950s.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/76396302/vintage-picnic-basket-woven-wood-slat

--- Susan

 

Sorry, I haven't been able to get back on until tonight (actually this morning).
Thank you both.

Susan, I will definitely search the basket outside in the daylight to see if there is some type of marking that I missed. Now I'm off to read those links. Thank you!