67/79

This round, bellied basket is a reticule (small bag), and has a lid and two drop handles. Opinions differ on what material it is made from - both very fine willow and esparto grass have been suggested. It is decorated with purple bands of the same material. The basket is not English, and may have been made in Italy, Spain or Germany in the nineteenth century.

1 basket: esparto grass

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket may be made of esparto grass [Dorothy Wright identified it as fine willow], from Spain or North Africa, but the work looks German. The material appears to have been split, which is a technique seen in Germany. From at least 1900 materials were transported around the globe, so a material is not indicative of place of production., 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 (RETICULE) // Acc. No.: 67/79 // Group: PERSONAL. USE. // Neg. no.: 60/8652 // Place of origin: Foreign. Italian or Spanish? // Period in use: mid-late 19th century. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: A type of fine willow. Some varnished skein. // Shape and construction: Round. Bellied. Drop-in cover. Very fine French slew. Trac border on basket & lid. Bands of purple skein. 2 twisted drop handles. // Dimensions: D. [depth] 4” WB. [width of bottom] 3” WT [width of top] 3 1/2” // Use: // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

1825 - 1899

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)