Object number
66/7
Title
Skep,
Exhibition
Creator
Description
This is a woolsorting skep, a kind of basket used on the top floor of a wool warehouse. It was made by Reliance Basket Works Ltd., a firm of skep and hamper makers in Eccleshill, West Yorkshire. It is a rectangular basket, made of brown, white and buff willow and cane, with steeply sloping sides and a handle at each end, and would originally have had wheels. The sorters in the warehouse took fleeces from the open bale, and unrolled and sorted them into skeps such as this one. This type of basket was peculiar to the woollen industry in the West Riding of Yorkshire, with a few sent to Northern Ireland.
Physical description
1 basket: brown, buff, white willow, cane
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue of baskets' form – 'NAME: Basket, SKEP (wool sorting) // Acc. No.: 66/7 // Group: CRAFTS. TEXTILE // Neg. no.: 60/7909 & 60/8743 // Place of origin: Yorkshire W. R. [West Riding] // Period in use: Present. // DESCRIPTION // Materials: Brown, buff & white willow & cane. // Makers: Reliance [Basket Works Ltd.] // Shape and construction: Widely flown rectangular basket – 8 bottom sticks. XII&7 stakes scallomed at the sides. Upset & fitches cane. 3 fitches at 13”, 24” & 32”. Bands of waling above the fitches in buff, finished with pillaring. Thick white corner posts & 4 brown bi-stakes at each end & sides. Twisted handles at each end at the 2nd fitch, in cane. Bottom will be fitted with 2 battens & wheels. Border: 6 behind 3. // Dimensions: top: 43” x 32” Bottom: 30” x 24” Depth: 35” // Use: On the top floor of the wool warehouse, the sorters take fleeces from the open bale, unroll & sort them into skeps. This basket is peculiar to the woollen industry in the West Riding. A few go to Northern Ireland. // Dialect names: // Distribution: // Additional notes: See Notebook I. pp.107 & 8. also 60/6465, 60/6469. 60/6462. Also List of S & Price. [Basketmakers’ Lists of Sizes and Prices of Work] Leeds. 1873. p.111 etcs. // The Industry. See Notebook I. p.110–11.'
Production place
Eccleshill
Object name
Material
Wood, willow, white,
Wood, willow, buff,
Wood, willow, brown,
Plant fibre, rattan Technique
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_7909.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_8743.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\66_7_cob.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\Baskets\66_7_doc_01.tif - High resolution image
