63/167

Malt skep,

William Shelley (Manufacturer)

This is an example of a malt skep or 'skip', used during the brewing process for shovelling barley. It was given to the Museum by the Rural Industries Bureau. It was made by William Shelley of Leaver & Company in Salisbury, Wiltshire. It is a round basket, made of ash slats woven with white willow, with a cane rim, metal lip and two roped handles.

1 basket: willow (white); cane; ash; metal

Rural Industries Bureau label – ‘DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLE: Malt Skip B.17 // PRICE. 30/– // DATE. March 1952 // NAME OF CRAFTSMAN. W. Shelley // ADDRESS. Leaver & Company, Griffing Court, Fishergate Street, Salisbury.’, MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: (Wm. [William] Shelley) Basket (skep) // Acc. No.: 63/167 // Group: PROCESSING. Grain malt // Neg. no.: 60/4718–9 // Place of origin: SALISBURY. WILTS. // Period in use: Pre-1960s. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow. Cane. Ash. // Shape and construction: The foundation of bottom & side are made in one with 3 slats of ash about 2” wide. 8 more are added after completion of the bottom. The bottom is round but one side is pulled out to make a shovel-shape & to this, after the cane rim has been lapped on with willow skein, a metal lip is fastened. 2 roped handles 1” below rim. Randed. // Dimensions: Top: 17” by 19”. Bottom diam: 11” Height: 11 1/2” // Use: Nothing known. Not apparently used in Home Brewing. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: This use of the word skip or skep is early. See card. Local.'

Salisbury

1952 - 1952

Wood, ash, Wood, willow, white, Plant fibre, rattan, Metal

Rural Industries Bureau (Corporate Body)
Mahoney, E. W. (Agent)
Elson, M. (Agent)
Leaver & Company ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)