Object number
55/5
Description
This is a basketwork winnowing fan for separating the corn from the chaff after it was threshed. The grain was put into the shallow scallop shell-shaped basket and thrown up into a draught of air so that the chaff was blown away. The fan has a flat front and a raised back to prevent the corn falling out. This basket is made of willow with two curved ash handles and ash slats.
Physical description
1 winnowing fan: wood; willow; cane
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: WINNOWING-FAN (basketwork) // Acc. No.: 55/5 // Group: THRESHING Hand // Neg. no.: 60/693 // Place of origin: Essex // Period in use: 1850–1900 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Wood/willow, ash, cane. Willow over an ash foundation. Cane rim. // Shape and construction: A wide shovel-shape rising at the back with two curved ash handles on the rim. Ash slates are shaped with a shave. Very closely beaten weave. // Dimensions: Length: 39 1/2” Width: 28” Height at back 11” // Use: For fanning away the chaff from corn after it was threshed on the barn floor. Complicated and difficult to make {D.W.} [Dorothy Wright] // Dialect names: Scuttle*, auth. Bobart // Distribution: General // Additional notes: See specimen cat. entry also Th Rogers. [Thorold-Rogers, J., ‘History of the Agriculture & prices in England 1259–1782’. Oxford, 1866–1902] & cards. Prob. no one could make it now. See I. Mss [Illuminated Manuscripts] 11 & 22. // *Bobart, H. H. Basketwork through the Ages [Bobart, H. H., ‘Basketwork through the Ages’. Oxford University Press, 1936]' p.142. // *La Vannerie. Duchene J. [Duchesne, R., Ferrand, H. & Thomas, J., ‘La Vannerie’. New Edition. Paris, J-B Bailliere et Fils, 1963] Vol I, p.163–5'
Production date
1850-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century, second half
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\55_5_cob.tif - High resolution image
