Laura and Jim Leventis bought a charming wicker bassinet approximately 50 years ago to cradle their first child, James. This proved to be a cherished tradition for many newborns. Purchased from Marshall Field’s department store while the Leventises were living in Chicago, the bassinet was used for all four of their children — James, Laura, Todd, and Cristina. After the family moved to Columbia and the children were grown, the bassinet was passed onto the Leventises’ daughter Laura for her children, making it a family heirloom.

Years later, in the summer of July 2006, Lauren and Rob Smith bought the Leventises’ Columbia home to raise their family when Lauren was 6 months pregnant with her first child. The treasured bassinet stayed with the house to be enjoyed by another family and another generation. Lauren’s mother, Carolyn Boucher, made a full skirt and pillow for the precious crib from a neutral, timeless fabric that would suit either a boy or a girl and wove a matching pale green ribbon through the open weave lattice.

Lauren’s two boys — Ramsey, now 13, and Henry, now 10 — were nestled and strolled from room to room through the years. Lauren has remarked that having the baby bed on wheels kept the family mobile as they moved throughout the house, creating so many treasured memories with a baby close at hand to rock and love. Lauren has kept this photo of Henry peeking over the side. “We used this bassinet for both boys, and I’ll hold onto it for the grandchildren!”

To enjoy the history on timeless wicker, please read Timeless Wicker in this issue.