68/202

This is a round basket with a very sturdy central handle and slightly flared sides. The base is completely missing. The basket is from white and brown willow grown in Ruscombe, Berkshire. It came from the Excell Brothers, a family firm of osier growers in Ruscombe, which closed in 1950.

1 basket: Ruscombe osiers

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 68/202 // Name of recorder: Hilary Burns and Sarah Le Breton // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Round with a central handle, slightly flared. // Materials: Willow – white and brown // Base: Base completely missing. Probably would have been worked underfoot. // Sides: 19 white stakes, 1 set of 3 rod wale beginning with butts – 2 rows. Followed by 2/3 rod slew in bands of white and brown. Followed by 2 rows of 3 rod wale. // Border: 5 rod behind 2 border. Crammed off border. // Handles: Cross handle over a bow. Rods around handle have been cranked. 2 thick wrapping rods on each side. Very sturdy handle. // Lid: No lid. // Dimensions: 13 inches – width at top; 8 inches – width at base; 10 inches – height of basket without handle; 16 inches – height with handle. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: Very sturdy handle. Poor condition with woodworm. // Anything else to note about this type of basket: Fruit-picking basket (sturdy agricultural basket), probably for cherries, plums or pears. Other similar examples in MERL collection., Cultivation of osiers was started at Ruscombe, Berkshire, in the 1860s or 1870s by Benjamin Excell (1823–1899) at Lakes Farm on Waltham Road. It was a family business, and was subsequently run by his sons Harry, Edward and John ‘Jack’ (1856–1895), and his grandsons. The willows were grown in beds in Southbury Lane, Ruscombe, and also at Caversham and Borough Marsh in the early days. They were cut during the winter and were stood in old gravel pits near Ruscombe Crossroads until they were ready for peeling in April or May. Many local women and children used to work for 2d or 3d an hour peeling willow. Albert Excell (Benjamin’s grandson), along with his brother Jack (1892–1981) took over the business in 1939 and ran it until fall in demand and scarcity of workers forced the business to close in 1950. All of the family helped out throughout the generations., MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – ‘BASKET (osier) // 68/202 // … // 30 cm [width] // 26 cm [height] // MADE WITH RUSCOMBE OSIERS’

1950

Wood, willow, brown, Wood, willow, white

Excell, Jack ()
Excell, Benjamin ()
Burns, Hilary (Recorder)
Le Breton, Sarah (Recorder)