Object number
2011/19
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This picnic set was manufactured by Drew & Sons of Piccadilly Circus, London, in the first half of the twentieth century. It consists of a rectangular basket with a hinged lid, handle and metal lock. Inside the basket is a picnic set with four cups, two of which have basketry-covered handles, a glass bottle, a metal box containing a bowl, and two saucers. It was presented to the donor, a basketmaker and collector of baskets, as a gift in 2000.
Physical description
1 picnic basket with 4 cups, box, 2 saucers, bottle : cane, leather, metal, glass
Label Text
Heritage craft makers are dedicated to keeping the practice of creating with wood and trees alive. This includes practical objects, pieces of art, and using them as tools to improve wellbeing. Objects that appear purely practical like a picnic basket can work to improve our mood and wellbeing. This can be done by encouraging the use of nature leading to physical benefits such as breathing fresh air and the mental benefits of enjoying a picnic lunch with the people you care about. Picnic Basket: 2011/19/1-9
Archival history
MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – ‘Short description (free text): Rectangular basket with lid, handle and lock used to transport food for lunch. Fittings and crockery inside. // … // Physical description (free text): Rectangular cane picnic basket with lid, handle and metal lock. Handle is to front of box rather than on top of lid and is made of basketry-covered metal. Affixed by means of curling the handle ends around a loop attached to the front of the basket. Lock operates by sliding round button on front to right and is affixed with metal studs. Basket has overhanging outer lip just under rim which lid rests on when shut. Interior of lid is covered with brown leather fitting with buckled straps in a cross form and small, seemingly plastic, manufacturer's label or plaque above. Straps hold two white metal saucers. Leather fitting is attached with thread looped around the strands of cane. Box contains one rectangular clear glass bottle with rounded metal lid; one square metal box with handle and fastening, containing a square white metal bowl with rounded corners; four white metal cups, two with basketry-covered handles, two without handles. Cups have faded blue motif on their bases, which appears to depict a lion with a teapot. These objects are held in place by basketry-covered fittings attached to the box. // … // Associated information (free text): This picnic basket, described by Felicity Wood as a 'lunch box', was originally acquired by Felicity in 2000. It came from the home of Lady Helen Waterhouse, Overshott, Badger Lane, Boars Hill, which had also been the home of Lady Helen's in-laws and was built in the 1950s. It was presented to Felicity Wood as a gift by Lady Helen's daughter, Eleanor. The picnic basket was manufactured by Drew & Sons of Piccadilly Circus, London, and most likely dates from 1950 or earlier... // References: See objects MERL 2009/41 (Basket, picnic - made by Drew & Co), 63/20 (Basket, picnic), 68/512 (Basket, picnic; Basket, luggage) // 'Baskets in Europe' - Bichard, Maurice (Fyfield Wick Editions, 2008)’, Felicity Wood No. 112.
Production place
Piccadilly
Production date
1900-01-01 - 1949-12-31
Production period
Twentieth century, first half
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
