67/39

This is a four-way cleave, a basketmaking tool for splitting willow rods into four to prepare skeins. It consists of a piece of boxwood with a flattened bottom and the tip carved into four fins. The cleave is held in the right hand while the left guides the rod. This one was used by the donor, his father and possibly his grandfather - a family of basketmakers from London.

cleave: wood

This is a part of a small collection of basketmaking tools (67/32-67/40) used by the donor (William Brown), his father (James 'Joe' Brown, who worked for G. W. Scott and Sons, a basketmaking firm in London) and grandfather. Mr William Brown gives his address as the London Association for the Blind, which had a factory in Peckham and which employed blind men in the manufacture of baskets, knitting needles and injection moulded plastics., MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: CLEAVE (4-way) // Acc. No.: 67/39 // Group: CRAFTS. WOOD BASKETS // Neg. no.: ? 60/13199 // Place of origin: London. // Period in use: // DESCRIPTION // Materials: wood/box // User: Wm. [William] Brown // Shape and construction: Very small. 4-way. Bottom flattened. // Dimensions: L. [length] 1 5/8” W. [width] bottom 1 1/2” // Use: For splitting small willows into 4 lengthways to make skeins. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

London Association for the Blind ()
Brown, James 'Joe' ()
G. W. Scott and Sons ()
Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)