58/94

This is a knitting basket for holding knitting needles. It is made of willow skein varnished dark brown and is in the shape of an elongated boat with two lapped drop handles. It dates from the nineteenth century.

1 basket: willow

Miss Harman offered 4 baskets to MERL in 1958. 1) A Devonshire basket (currently identified as 58/93) known as the ‘chimney pot’ basket, with a drawing showing a single handle. 2) A model of an old Buckinghamshire basket (currently identified as 58/92) which Miss Harman acquired from her cousin (born c. 1881, no name given), who acquired it from her grandmother (from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, no name given). 3) A knitting basket for needles (definitely 58/94). 4) A string ball basket made before Miss Harman was born (pre-1888). MERL only has three baskets from Miss Harman. It was noted on 12 November 1958 in a letter from Miss Harman the she had not yet sent the Devon basket, or a Veterinary Surgeons Diploma, as she could not find them – MERL does not have the diploma either. This may mean that 58/92 and 58/93 are not correctly matched to Miss Harman’s baskets 1) and 2). 58/122 could possibly be basket 4)., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: BASKET (unknown) // Acc. No.: 58/94 // Group: CRAFTS: TEXTILE Clothing knitting // Neg. no.: 60/3070 // Place of origin: London. (Probably English) // Period in use: Before 1885 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Willow skein. Varnished dark brown // Shape and construction: A flat-bottomed boat-shape, with flattened sides tapering to points which are bound. Two lapped drop handles. // Dimensions: Length 14” // Use: For holding knitting needles. // Dialect names: // Distribution: An example in Ireland. // Additional notes: See P.A.1. more elaborate & 55/216. Others same shape in Castle Museum York. Others same shape in The Abbey, Kirkstale, Leeds.'

Greater London [region]

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)