79/48

This fruit basket belonged to the donor's grandmother, who lived on a farm in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and was used for collecting harvested apples, and also to take sandwiches to labourers in the field. It is a flat-bottomed oval basket with shallow sides. It is made of buff willow with a band of brown around the sides. It has a handle of lapped willow skein, some of which has been painted red.

1 basket: willow

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 79/48 // Name of recorder: Sue Kirk and Angie Tavernor // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Oval // Materials: Buff and brown willow. Painted willow skein on handle. // Base: Underfoot oval base, 7 x 6 (between 5-foot and 6-foot buff rods). Randed and paired. 2 sets of 4-rod pull-down wale [see diagram]. // Sides: 3 rows of 3-rod wale. 34 side stakes (including 2 ‘false’ side stakes – one on each side of the left handle bow). Straight sides. 13 fine 3-foot rods staggered English rand (possibly home-grown willow). In sets of 3 at a time. 1 row of 3-rod wale in buff willow. // Border: Trac border. Behind 1, in front of 1, behind 1, in front of 1. // Handles: Left bow inserted into the base [see diagram]. Lapped with willow skeins – some are enamelled red. // Lid: N/A // Dimensions: 36 (length) x 24 (width) x 8 (height). Handle 22cm. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: Elaborate handle compared to its use. Possibly willow grown by the maker as very long and thin. Possibly made regularly by this person due to short cuts and handle efficiency. Seems to be the same maker as 79/49. // Anything else to note about this type of basket: Enamelled lapping cane was later copied by plastic strips., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: basket, apple // Accession number: 79/48 // … // Recorder: DJE // Date: 4.9.79 // Description: Flat bottomed oval basket of white willow, with a band of brown on the side, and another on the base. The handle is lapped with willow skein, some of which has been painted red. // Dimensions: Length inside: 35.5 cms. Width inside 22.5 cms. Height to top of handle: 24 cms // Associated information: Used for collecting apples, principally, but also for taking sandwiches to labourers. Belonged to donor’s grandmother, Mrs Norris of Drakes Farm, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, Sussex.’

1979

Basket, fruit, Basket, picnic

Wood, willow, brown, Wood, willow, buff, Wood, willow

Kirk, Sue (Recorder)
Tavernor, Angie (Recorder)