Object number
2012/462
Description
This basket was purchased new from the Hovells shop in Norwich, East Anglia. It was probably made by one of the East Anglian journeyman makers at the Stanley Bird workshop in Great Yarmouth with the purpose of holding asparagus spears and carrying them to the farm packhouse to be sorted and bundled. It is made of white and brown willow, with a cane handle. It was purchased by Maurice Bichard, the author of 'Baskets in Europe' (published in 2008 by Fyfield Wick Editions), in 1983.
Physical description
1 asparagus gatherer basket: willow; cane; good condition.
Archival history
Maurice Bichard object form - 'Name: ASPARAGUS GATHERER // MB ID: E122 // ... // Collection date: 1983 // Country: England // Locality: East Anglia (Hovells, Norwich) // Source - new, shop, working, Probably made by one of the E. Anglian journeyman makers at the Stanley Bird workshop in Great Yarmouth // Use: Holding the cut asparagus spears and carrying them to the packhouse for sorting and bundling // Materials: White and brown willow; cane handle // ... // Description: Square base 39 x 23cm. Height of sides 20cm. 39cm to handle top. A rugged farm basket which was also sold as a shopper. Base, upsett and border in white willow, with sides slewed in brown. Handle bow of stout willow covered with a single cane rod passed from side to side, anchored below border - producing an 8-rod twist // Notes: The square shape was different from most farm baskets since it had to carry a linear product. Cross reference to books: Bichard (2008) p66 photo // DVD by Rae Gillott for the B A of Colin Manthorpe making one (75 minutes) // Also a shorter version (20 minutes) made for a March 2011 Day School at MERL'
Object name
Material
Technique
Dimensions
- Height 390 mm
- Width 435 mm
- Depth 300 mm
Associated subject
