Object number
2022/114
Collection
Creator
Description
Former for Fenland eel trap made by Ernie James. Acquired by the donor during her QEST Scholarship studying East Anglian baskets.
Wooden former for Fenland eel trap, made by Ernie James. The former is used to create the non-returnable valve inside an eel trap. It was acquired by the donor during her QEST Scholarship studying East Anglian baskets. It is a wooden cone-shape with central handle, with a material cord tied and threaded through it.
Physical description
1 frame: wood, fabric
Archival history
Email Donor to MERL, 17 July 2019 - ‘Parcel One: The small one. // 1. A wooden former, for a Fenland eel trap of the Ernie James type. It was made by him and given to me by him in 1994, when I was helping him make material (splitting and shaving willow) for one of his last traps. This was part of a QEST Scholarship see below. // 2. A ‘Chair’ (spelling guessed at but that was how it sounded) of willow petals which form the non-returnable valve inside the trap, between sections. It is very fragile but does show how that was made. From a trap made by Ernie James in the early 1990’s. // 3. Some of the carved willow petals, made to show me how he did them in 1994.'
Production place
Welney
Production date
1994 - 1994
Object name
Material
Dimensions
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