Object number
64/159
Creator
Description
This white willow bird cage was made by Mrs Leslie Maltby. It is round with a spire top and a door at the side, and would once have had a small platform outside the cage on which turf was placed to hold worms for food. In the eighteenth century birds such as blackbirds and starlings were kept in cages like this, which were hung by the door.
Physical description
1 bird cage (willow)
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: CAGE (bird basketwork) // Acc. No.: 64/159 // Group: DOMESTIC FURNISHING furniture // Neg. no.: 60/8686 // Place of origin: London. // Period in use: 1959 // DESCRIPTION // Materials: White willow // Maker: Leslie Maltby // Shape and construction: Round, with a spire top. Door at side above fitch. It had once a small platform outside the cage. BS. [number of bottom sticks] 6 1/2”. St. [number of stakes] 25. B St. [bye stakes] 24. 2 fitches. 4 rounds upset. 5-rod wale at the turn for the spire. 2 fitches on spire. // Dimensions: Height: 24” Diam. bottom: 10” Diam. widest part 16” // Use: For a blackbird. The platform outside was said by the maker to have been a turf-holder on which worms were laid for the bird to dig. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: see Trade Lists // “ [see] Illust. C.2 & 3. M.G.2 & 10'
Production place
Greater London [region]
Object name
Material
Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_8686.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\64_159_cob.tif - High resolution image
