67/72

This toy cutlery basket, for holding toy knives and forks that were bought with it, is French or German in origin and was made in the early-twentieth century. It is a rectangular basket with straight sides and removable partitions, and it has a handle going from side to side. The base is a slat of wood and the open-work sides are made of willow rod and skein.

1 basket: willow

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 (cutlery) // Acc. No.: 67/72 // Group: PERSONAL. USE. TOYS // Neg. no.: 60/8644 // Place of origin: French or German // Period in use: early 20th c. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Willow rod & skein. // Shape and construction: Rectangular. Straight sides. Partition removable. Bottom a slat of wood. Sides sewn to it. Sides open, stakes sewn to rods going round. Lapped side-to-side handle. // Dimensions: WB. [width of bottom] 2” LB. [length of bottom] 3” D. [depth] 1 3/4” // Use: For toy knives & forks bought with it. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes:'

1900-01-01 - 1924-12-31

Early-twentieth century

Wright, Dorothy (Recorder)