66/266

Cowel,

William Shelley (Manufacturer)

This back pannier basket was made for the Museum in 1965–1966 by William Shelley of Salisbury, Wiltshire. It is a copy (on a smaller scale) of the Cornish ‘cowel’, known as a ‘creel’ in Scotland, for carrying fish and was worn by fish sellers (who were usually women) on their backs. These baskets were probably in fairly general use in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. This pannier is made of white willow, although the originals were probably made of brown. It has a U-shaped base, a curved back to fit more comfortably, and finger holes on either side.

1 basket: willow (white)

This is one of thirteen baskets ordered from William Shelley on 17 June 1965. The list of orders is as follows: 66/261, yard of butter; 66/262, doctor’s basket [specimen bottle basket]; 66/263, round fowl cage [poultry travelling basket]; 66/264, egg cage [egg basket]; 66/265, cowel [fish back-pannier basket]; 66/266, cowel [fish back-pannier basket]; 66/267, seedlip; 66/268, umbrella basket; 66/269, corn server [feeding basket]; 66/270, arch cage [pigeon basket]; duck basket; alligator basket; watercress flat., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: Basket (BACK-PANNIER, FISH) // Acc. No.: 66/266 // Group: TRANSPORT. LAND. GOODS. manual // Neg. no.: 60/7785 // Place of origin: Cornwall. Copy made: Wiltshire // Period in use: 1700–1900 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow. Probably the originals were brown. // Maker: William Shelley // Shape and construction: The same as 66/265 [Traditional pannier. Front, bottom & back stakes in one U-shaped curve. 8 in number. 2 thicker at ends. sides: 3 leagues. 2 stakes. Finger holes either side. No border top is lapped. Back curves in to fit the back.] // Dimensions: “ [The same as 66/265 [Height: 12” Width top: 10 1/2” Length top = 13”]] // Use: “ [The same as 66/265 [A copy of the Cornish “cowel” carried by fish sellers (women) on the back.]] // Dialect names: Cornish – Cowel. Scots. [Scottish] Creel // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

Salisbury

1965 - 1966

Rural Industries Bureau (Agent)
Trust, Mr W. G. (Agent)
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)
Leaver & Company