Object number
2006/54
Title
Swill basket,
Creator
Description
This oak swill basket was made in 2006 by Owen Jones of High Nibthwaite, Cumbria, the last professional swill basket maker. The swill basket is a strong, lightweight basket used for a variety of purposes, such as gathering potatoes and sowing seed. It is made of thin strips of woven oak. The oak is split into inch square sections and boiled, before being torn or ‘rived’ into thin strips which are then dressed by scraping with a knife to prepare them for weaving.
Physical description
swill basket: woven oak; chestnut rim or boule
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: BASKET // Accession number: 2006/54 // … // Recorder: WAP // Date: 25th Sept. ‘06 // Description: 1 Oak swill basket // Dimensions: 57 x 47 x 23 cms (length x width x depth) // Associated information: Purchased from Own Jones, maker, during filming of the basket making process at High Nibthwaite, 13/7/2006. // See films & additional information in the [Rural Crafts Take Ten] project archive.’
Production place
High Nibthwaite
Production date
2006 - 2006
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
