67/63

This cap basket, for carrying caps, was probably made in Germany in the nineteenth century. It is made on a mould – a technique not frequently used in Britain. It is an oval basket, with the base and lid being of equal size and forming the two halves. It has a two small handles for carrying. It is made of buff willow rod and skein and straw plait, and is lined with red silk. In the nineteenth century, women would wear an outdoor bonnet when going visiting and would change into an indoor cap on arrival, which they carried in the cap basket.

1 cap basket: willow, straw, silk

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket is likely to be German in origin. This could be confirmed by the German Basket Museums (Deutsches Korbmuseum) in Michelau, near Lichtenfels., 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. Little history is known about any of them., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: BASKET (cap) // Acc. No.: 67/63 // Group: PERSONAL USE // Neg. no.: 60/8634 // Place of origin: Probably German [underlined in red] // Period in use: mid or late 19th c. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Buff willow rod & skein & straw plait. // Shape and construction: Oval, lid & basket same size forming rounded half each. More or less a frame basket but highly sophisticated. Lined red silk. Ring & loop fastening pinned with a lace bobbin. 2 small handles over closure. // Dimensions: W. [width] 9 1/2” L. [length] 11 1/2” D. [depth] 5 1/4” // Use: see 64/184. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: see 64/184. // Uncertain about country of origin. Most cap baskets appear to have been made on moulds which is quite foreign to Brit. [British] practice therefore give them as foreign. Materials used are no guide because in the late 19th c. Brit. [British] basketmakers appear to have used all sorts of materials including string & esparto grass, enamelled & stained cane, as the Germans did.'

1825 - 1899

Wood, willow, Plant fibre, straw, Fibre, silk

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)