64/184

This cap basket, for carrying caps, was probably not made in the UK and is likely to be German in origin. It is a round basket, with the base and lid being equal in size, and with two handles. It is made of willow skein stakes, enamelled cane or palm, 3-strand plaited rush and black string. It is decorated with a star pattern. It belonged to the donor’s grandmother, in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The donor remembers her grandmother going visiting in a black bonnet, carrying the basket and changing into an indoor cap on arrival.

1 basket: willow, cane, rush, string, brass

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket uses a variety of materials: willow skein stakes, 3-strand plaited rush weaving, black string weaving, and palm [Dorothy Wright thought cane] binding around the split wood and around the edge. The basket is probably German in origin [Dorothy Wright thought German or Far Eastern]., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: BASKET (cap) // Acc. No.: 64/184 // Group: PERSONAL USE // Neg. no.: 60/5949 // Place of origin: W. Riding Yorkshire. probably foreign. // Period in use: Latter half of the 19th century // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Willow. Enamelled cane. Rush. String. Brass fastening. // Shape and construction: Circular, the basket & the lid being equal in size. Foundation stakes split willow, weaving alternate randed bands of plaited raffia & dark string. Willow skein pattern in centres of reinforcements & lapped handles of cane. Enamelled dark brown. B.S. [number of bottom sticks] 13 appear to hold between two discs of wood. 25 further st. [sticks] added. Evidence of a drop handle now lost. // Dimensions: Diam: 8” Height 6”. // Use: A married lady would go visiting in her bonnet, carrying this basket, & changing into an indoor cap on arrival. // Dialect names: // Distribution: General // Additional notes: We know of 11 more of these, all different, see PA 1&2. MU.2.4.16.17.18. // Difficult to say if it is English. Could be German or oriental. // Repairs to Cap Baskets 1877. see card.'

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

Wood, willow, Plant fibre, rattan, Plant fibre, rush, Metal, brass

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)