66/265

Cowel,

William Shelley (Manufacturer)

This back pannier basket was made for the Museum in 1965–1966 by William Shelley of Salisbury, Wiltshire. It is a copy of the Cornish ‘cowel’, known as a ‘creel’ in Scotland, for carrying fish and was worn by fish sellers (who were usually women) on their backs. These baskets were probably in fairly general use in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. This pannier is made of white willow, although the originals were probably made of brown. It has a U-shaped base, a curved back to fit more comfortably, and finger holes on either side.

1 basket: willow (white)

This is one of thirteen baskets ordered from William Shelley on 17 June 1965. The list of orders is as follows: 66/261, yard of butter; 66/262, doctor’s basket [specimen bottle basket]; 66/263, round fowl cage [poultry travelling basket]; 66/264, egg cage [egg basket]; 66/265, cowel [fish back pannier basket]; 66/266, cowel [fish back pannier basket]; 66/267, seedlip; 66/268, umbrella basket; 66/269, corn server [feeding basket]; 66/270, arch cage [pigeon basket]; duck basket; alligator basket; watercress flat., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: Basket (BACK-PANNIER, fish) // Acc. No.: 66/265 // Group: TRANSPORT. LAND. GOODS manual // Neg. no.: 60/7786 // Place of origin: Wiltshire // Period in use: // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow. Probably the originals were brown. // Maker: William Shelley // Shape and construction: Traditional pannier. Front, bottom & back stakes in one U-shaped curve. 8 in number. 2 thicker at ends. sides: 3 leagues. 2 stakes. Finger holes either side. No border top is lapped. Back curves in to fit the back. // Dimensions: Height: 12” Width top: 10 1/2” Length top = 13” // Use: A copy of the Cornish “cowel” carried by fish sellers (women) on the back. // Dialect names: Cornish – cowel. Scot. [Scottish] creel // Distribution: Probably fairly general. 18th & 19th century. Similar shape illustrate in 14th cent. Ms. [manuscripts] Norfolk origin. Holkham Bible HB4. // Additional notes:'

Salisbury

1965 - 1966

Rural Industries Bureau (Agent)
Trust, Mr W. G. (Agent)
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)
Leaver & Company