67/69

This toy shopping basket was made on a mould, a technique not used in Britain, and may be Austrian or Swiss. It uses a form of twining as a construction technique. It is made of rush, although these types of baskets are also made from maize all across Europe.

1 basket: rush

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket uses a form of twining as a construction technique, and is definitely not British., 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 (shopping) // Acc. No.: 67/69 // Group: PERSONAL USE. TOYS // Neg. no.: 60/8641 // Place of origin: Not English. Might be Austrian or Swiss // Period in use: late 19th or early 20th century ? // DESCRIPTION // Materials: A type of rush // Shape and construction: Rectangular & made on a mould. Flown. Paired bottom & upset. 6 cross-fitches. 3 rounds top wale. Border 1 beh. [behind] 1. 2 plaited handles. // Dimensions: WB. [width of bottom] 1” LB. [length of bottom] 3 1/4” D. [depth] 3 1/2” WT. [width of top] 1” LT. [length of top] 4 1/2” // Use: Perhaps as a toy or ornament. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: This type of basket is now made from maize all over middle Europe.'

1875 - 1924

Basketry, twined, Braided

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)