55/216

This canoe shaped basket with two handles was used for holding cotton, wool and knitting needles. This basket is made of willow, but knitting baskets made of interwoven cane rods were once commonly used in Britain, and in Wales they were often made of straw. It comes from Downhill Farm in Hailey, Oxfordshire.

One basket: wood (willow); cane; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This canoe shaped basket which measures 15 inches long and 2.5 inches in depth was used for holding cotton, wool, and knitting needles. It belonged to a Mrs Cook of Downhill Farm, Hailey, near Witney, who gave it to Miss Dale some fifty years ago. It is said to be at least one hundred years old. // Knitting baskets or yarn holders of interwoven cane rods, very carefully made, were once commonly used throughout Britain. In Wales for example yarn holdes [sic] were commonly made of coiled straw.', MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – ‘NAME: BASKET (unknown) // Acc. No.: 55/216 // Group: CRAFT. TEXTILE. Clothing knitting // Neg. no.: 35/3698 // Place of origin: Oxfordshire // Period in use: 1855 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Willow // Shape and construction: A boat-shape with flattened bottom & sides & sharp ends. Two lapped top handles. 4 thick willow rods make edges & bottom angles, 4 thinner ones between each. Randed with skein. // Dimensions: Length: 15” Depth: 2.5” // Use: For holding cotton for tatting, wool & knitting needles // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: See P.A.I. [?] elaborate & 58/94. Others in the Castle Museum, York, The Abbey Museum, Kirkstale, Leeds.’

1825-01-01 - 1874-12-31

Mid-nineteenth century

Wood, willow, Plant fibre, rattan

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)