67/22

A bodkin is a tool used by basketmakers for a variety of jobs, from opening out the weave to insert a rod or handle, to putting stakes in at the bottom, and therefore come in a many different sizes according to the work, the thickness of the material and the size of the basket. This bodkin consists of a very short, thick, sharply pointed steel spike with a thick handle made of leather. It was used at Thomas Abbey & Sons, a basketmaking firm in Selby, North Yorkshire, for general work, but probably mostly for heavy work and inserting stakes into a round-bottomed basket.

1 bodkin: metal, leather

The family basketmaking business of Thomas Abbey & Sons was established in 1864. Mrs Snowden’s brother (Guy Abbey), father (A. E. Abbey) and grandfather were all basketmakers in the business. Her father spent some years teaching basketmaking at the Amar Singh Technical Institute in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, and was also on the Rural Industries Bureau. When Guy Abbey died there was no one to pass the firm on to, and Mrs Snowden donated several tools [67/15–67/31] which had been in use in the family for about one hundred years., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: BODKIN. // Acc. No.: 67/22 // Group: CRAFTS. Wood. Baskets // Neg. no.: 60/8583 // Place of origin: Yorks [Yorkshire] (W. R. [West Riding]) Selby // Period in use: 1865 onwards. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: metal/Steel. Leather // User: Thos. [Thomas] Abbey & Sons // Shape and construction: A very short thick bodkin, tapering quickly. Handle thick & stubby. Built up leather handle nailed together from bottom. // Dimensions: L. [length] overall 5 3/4” L. [length] point 3 3/4” W. [width] bottom print 5/8” // Use: For general shop use but probably mostly in heavy work & in putting stakes into a round bottom of basket. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: see also 54/106.'

Metal, Leather

Abbey, Guy ()
Abbey, A. E. ()
Rural Industries Bureau ()
Amar Singh Technical Institute ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)