2011/15

This is a long-handled basketwork carpet beater made of cane, with wire fastenings and string reinforcements. Carpet beaters were in common use before the vacuum cleaner. The carpet would be hung over a clothesline and hit with the beater to remove the dust and dirt. It was given to the donor, a basketmaker and collector of baskets, as a gift in 2006.

1 carpet beater: cane, wire, string

MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – ‘Short description (free text): Woven cane basketwork carpet beater. // … // Physical description (free text): Long-handled basketwork carpet beater made from cane. Wide, flat head made by bending and curving the cane and looping it through itself before twisting it down to form the straight handle. Handle is approximately 450mm long. The strands are fastened at the top and bottom of the handle with thin, rusted metal wire. Both the bottom of the handle and the looped cane at the top of the head are reinforced with modern string or cord. // … // Associated information (free text): This carpet beater was originally acquired by Felicity Wood in 2006 as a gift from Christine Wrigley. The carpet beater had previously belonged to Ms Wrigley's parents. It most likely dates from the 1950s and was made in the traditional manner... // References: ‘Baskets in Europe' - Bichard, Maurice (Fyfield Wick Editions, 2008) - in particular, p164. // 'The complete book of baskets and basketry' - Wright, Dorothy (David & Charles, 1992) - in particular, p100.’, Felicity Wood No. 106.

1950-01-01 - 1959-12-31

1950s

Beater, carpet, Basketwork

Plant fibre, rattan, Metal