78/48

This is a finely-made and very decorative circular work basket made of extremely fine willow. It is made in two halves – a base and a lid – which are constructed in the same manner using a variety of weaves. The lid has two twisted hinges and a simple loop fastening.

1 work basket: good condition

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 78/48 // Name of recorder: Bunty Ball and John Page // General construction method: Stake and strand (base and lid). Plaited. // Overall shape: Round // Materials: Willow – extremely fine willow (so fine that you would think it was cane). // Base: 10 x 10 base sticks. 10 rounds tying in the slath. Then base sticks are opened out in pairs with pairing. 4–5 rows of pairing open into 20 sticks then 2-rod wale for 9–10 rounds to 11.5cm diameter base. // Sides: Base sticks – 20 groups of 4 weavers for staking up on the top of the base, plus another 20 groups staking up on the reverse, making 40 groups of 4 weavers to make the upper siding, which is called the Madeira weave (in front of 2 behind 2) in a plait measuring 6cms in height at the top of the plait. This plait is continued to the right, back to the base to make a foot plaited in the same manner as the sides. // Border: – // Handles: Handle stakes roughly tied in to make a 4 element plait. // Lid: Lid slath/base same as base. Lid is constructed in the same manner as the base, but 40 groups of only 2 stakes instead of the 4 stakes used on the base. Ending in a simple plait back at the edge of the base. Simple loop fastening. Plus 2 twisted hinges. // Dimensions: – // Anything else to note about this particular basket: // Anything else to note about this type of basket: Similar in paintings by such as Caravaggio., The Ann Mary Pilcher Collection of Victorian Baskets (67/60-94) was collected by Ann Mary Pilcher in 1957-1967, mostly from junk shops and stalls. Mrs Johnstone, as she became, continued to collect Victorian baskets and donated this one to the Museum in 1978., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: work basket // Accession number: 78/48 // … // Recorder: DJE // Date: 9.3.78 // Description: Work basket, circular with lid and handle. // Dimensions: Height 19.5 cms // diameter of base 17 cms // Associated information: // References: Wright, Dorothy ‘The Complete Book of Baskets & Basketry’ P.172’

1978

Basketry, stake and strand, Basketry, plaited

Pilcher, Ann Mary (Donor)
Ball, Bunty (Recorder)
Page, John (Recorder)