Rattan Whale and Elephant Hampers

So, do you think this would make a good housewarming gift? Depending on the person, maybe? If you're into kitsch, these rattan animal hampers could add a funny twist to your bathroom, your closet, or even your, uh, luxury laundry room...

These hampers are handwoven and are offered in various sizes and finishes (the large measures between 2 to 3 feet tall). Now if we could just find a photo of someone hauling one of these to a laundromat...

Available at Home Decorator's Collection.

Comments (12)

*jaw drops*

The rediscovery of the early 1970s is starting to scare me. Much as I loved our elephant hamper (which might have been at my grandparents' house -- it seems like more my grandmother's taste than my mother's -- and when you're 5, what's not to love with an elephant hamper?), I have to wonder what's next... will West Elm soon produce a replica of the classic "colonial" Sears bedroom set?

posted by wende in the twin cities on March 4th 2008 at 6:47am
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Since I have a rather...um, eclectic? personality, I'd go for the whale. I'd say that it would get my friends laughing, but they're used to seeing the odd things I do.

posted by oceandreamer56 on March 4th 2008 at 6:57am
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I am in love with that whale.

posted by spaceagemouse on March 4th 2008 at 7:08am
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What are you smoking out in LA and how can I get some?

How these made it past the "hot... or not?" feature is beyond me.

I need to go spend a few hours in some disspassionate modern plaza in midtown and try to blot the word "rattan" from my mind... and find some salve for the burning on my retinas.

Please don't ever do this. again.

posted by paul on March 4th 2008 at 7:15am
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Um, ew... although, my 2 -yr. old would love these. Maybe if one of these little rattan creatures were spray-painted white and used in conjunction with a jungle or sea-themed nursery; but otherwise, not so much.

posted by saraleegriff on March 4th 2008 at 7:35am
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Hideous. Just hideous. I hated them in '73, I hate them now.

posted by Carder on March 4th 2008 at 8:09am
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No and NOOOOOOOOO! And, in general, NO to anything I have ever seen in the Home Decorators Catalog. I can nearly guarantee that the whale hamper will be at my Mother-in-Law's house by my next visit (cause she lives in a condo in Florida and, therefore, everyting in her house is required to have dolphins or seashells on it). This will match perfectly (cause everything has to match, too) in the bathroom with the beach-scene wallpaper border, right next to the toilet with the seashell seat!

posted by robyn on March 4th 2008 at 8:19am
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Ahhh, the memories.
My parents used to have a wicker frog with a gaping mouth and marble eyes. I wonder what happened to him?

posted by jakelegs on March 4th 2008 at 9:07am
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The whale!

I volunteer for a Humpback Whale research org from Australia - that whale is perfect for me! And for my research friends. Yippee! :-D

posted by *heather leaf* on March 4th 2008 at 12:09pm
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Aww, why so much negativity? They're whimsical

posted by J. Cipa on March 4th 2008 at 12:39pm
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We had an elephant hamper growing up in the 70's. CRAZY.

posted by jenzoe on March 4th 2008 at 5:26pm
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i would love to see the whale painted like bright shiny yellow or purple for some serious pop art action.

posted by edgertor on March 5th 2008 at 9:16am
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