Object number
55/346
Exhibition
Creator
Description
A skep is a type of beehive that has been in use for over 2000 years and is essentially a basket placed upside down. This skep is made of plaited straw. It has observation windows with hinged doors on the side, and the top is in two pieces. It was made by George Neighbour and Sons of London. It was owned by the donor’s father for sixty years and was probably brought from Cornwall.
Physical description
Bee skep: wood; straw, glass
Label Text
Skep hive. Skep beehives have been in use for over 2000 years. Skeps are baskets made of coiled straw. Bees had to be removed from the skep to safely harvest the honey, either through swarming, drowning, smoking or driving the bees to empty hives. Modern wooden hives have removable frames for inspecting honeycomb and removing honey. This skep has observation windows to enable the beekeeper to monitor activity. MERL 55/346.
Archival history
Letter, Donor to The MERL, 20 March 1954 – 'I have a bee skep [pencil sketch] something like the sketch. My father owned it for sixty years - probably brought from Cornwall though makers tab is still afixed. Condition weak. If unique, or of use to you, you are welcome to it.', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Name of Object: Hive (skep) Livestock bees // Age…: 19th century // Name and address of present owner: [...] Selsdon, Surrey // Description of use to which it was put…: Owned by [...]'s father for 60 years. Probably brought from Cornwall. Top in two pieces. [pencil sketch] Makers tab 'George Neighbour & Sons, London' // Observation window with hinged door.’
Production place
Greater London [region]
Production date
1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_3118.tif - High resolution image
