Restoring antique wicker

[Aycharow]

Hi all, hoping someone might be able to help. I have an antique wicker shopping basket that has gone very dry and brittle, and I'm concerned it will soon start to fall to pieces.

It has been handed down in the family and dates from about 1890.

Is there something I can use to help preserve it?

Search on-line. I had a quick look and there are a few sites that you could look at. Good luck.

Thanks for your help Mike, yes I did look online, but they are all to do with repairing cane seats or weatherproofing outdoor garden furniture and I couldn't find any that were specifically for reviving antique baskets. I think I might use some beeswax polish and a soft toothbrush.

I'd try misting lightly with water with a few dros of glycerin in it, but I am no expert. I have a few baskets - I use hamper ones for bits and bobs and other than dusting them, I hadn't thought of maintaining them.

drops not dros

This one is so old and dried out it is crispy. Glycerin is a great idea, my late mum used to use it on dried-up autumn leaves for flower arranging.