51/232

This picking knife was used for picking the ends off the withies as a basket was made. It comes from Deerhurst, a village in Gloucestershire that was previously an important centre for the making of fruit baskets.

1 picking knife; metal and wood [pearwood]; fair condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This tool was obtained by Mr. Massingham from the village of Deerhurst-on-Severn (Gloucestershire) which was previously an important centre for the making of fruit baskets. It was acquired in the middle thirties from an old man then aged 84 who had formerly been a basket maker. The knife was used for picking the ends off the withies as the basket was made. The butt is cut out of pearwood and the whole tool is 6.5 inches long.', MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: KNIFE (picking) // Acc. No.: 51/232M. // Group: CRAFT. WOOD. BASKETS. // Neg. no.: 35/148 // Place of origin: Deerhurst-on-Severn, Gloucestershire. // Period in use: ?1880–1920 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Steel blade. Wood/pear, metal/steel // Shape and construction: Short blade of steel curved one side & straight the other. Handle of pear wood straight on top & with a knob below. // Dimensions: 6.5 ins long // Use: For picking the ends off the willows as the basket was made. // Dialect names: // Distribution: This type of knife was in general use. // Additional notes: {Deerhurst-on-Severn was previously an important centre for making fruit baskets} {It was acquired in the middle thirties from a retired basket maker then aged 84. H.J.M [Harold John Massingham]} // Collection: Massingham ', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/232 // NAME: PICKING KNIFE // NEG NO.: 35/148 // STORAGE: '

Wood, Metal

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)