67/61

Baby or nursing basket, for holding a baby’s toilet articles. It was made in France in the nineteenth century.
This baby basket, or nursing basket, is for holding a baby’s toilet articles in the home. It is a rectangular basket with a small handle at either end. The base is made of wooden slats and the open-work sides of white willow, and would have been lined with material. It was made in France in the nineteenth century.

1 basket: willow (white)The open work sides are of a technique known as Goise d 'Eclisse or Travail a Carreaux [see Duchesne's 'La Vannerie', 1963, vol.1, p.318].

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 (baby) // Acc. No.: 67/61 // Group: PERSONAL USE // Neg. no.: 60/8632 // Place of origin: FRENCH // Period in use: mid or late 19th c. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow rod & skein. Basket wld. [would] have been lined with material. // Shape and construction: Base of wooden slats. Skeined over, with turned skeining making the rest. Open work sides known as Groise d’Eclisse or Travail a Carreaux (J. Duchene. ‘La Vannerie’. 1963. [Duchesne, R., Ferrand, H. & Thomas, J., ‘La Vannerie’. New Edition. Paris, J-B Bailliere et Fils, 1963] Vol. I. p.318.) Edge bound on small handle either end. // Dimensions: WB. [width of bottom] 9” LB. [length of bottom] 12 1/2” D. [depth] 4 1/2” WT. [width of top] 13 1/2” LT. [length of top] 16 1/2” // Use: To hold a baby’s toilet articles. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

France

1825 - 1899

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)