96/118

Devon splint,

Jack Rowsell (Manufacturer)

This is the largest size of Devon splint basket and is known as a 'maund'. It is made of pine splints attached to a pine base. The base was traditionally made of elm, but by 1996 elm was no longer available. It is held together by nails and ash bands. The two end staves form the handles. This type of basket was traditionally used in the fields, to take feed to cattle and to collect potatoes and apples after harvesting. Jack Rowsell, who made this basket, learnt the craft from his father; they used to make the baskets in their spare time, rather than as a primary profession.

1 basket: wood [pine, ash]

Mr. Rowsell had been making these baskets for 40 years and learnt the craft from his father. Although the baskets are not used in the fields anymore he still made 25-50 a year which he sold. Mr. Rowsell was one of the last people to make Devon splint baskets and died in 1997., MERL ‘Handwritten accession form’ (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Standard museum name: DEVON SPLINT BASKET // Accession number: 96/118 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 25.11.97 // Description: A basket constructed from pine stones fixed to a pine base (elm no longer available). It is held together by nails and ash bands. The two end staves are larger and thicker and are cut out at the top to form handles. // Dimensions: Length: 63 cm Depth: 27 cm // Width: 46 cm // Associated information: This is the largest size of the Devon splint baskets and is known as a maund. // It was made by Jack Rowsell of Tiverton Devon shortly before he died in the summer of 1997’

Tiverton [Devon]

1996 - 1996

Basket, feeding, Basket, potato

Wood, pine, Wood, ash