84/43

This is a finely-made oblong key basket. It is made of very fine skeined willow, with two hinged handles and a detachable lid which fits into the rim. It is decorated with an embroidered floral design on the sides and lid. It probably dates from the mid-late nineteenth century, and may be German in origin.

1 basket: willow; small

Visiting researcher note, Tim Johnson (basketmaker), 20 June 2014 – This basket is likely to be German in origin. This could be confirmed by the German Basket Museums (Deutsches Korbmuseum) in Michelau, near Lichtenfels., MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 84/43 // Name of recorder: Karen Lawrence and Annemarie O’Sullivan // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Rectangular // Materials: Skeined willow, very fine. // Base: 62 base sticks running across, between 11 running lengthways, sandwiched under strip of wood and bound by fine skein. // Sides: 4 sections on sides. 2 skeins wrapped onto outside at point of upset. Triangular pattern in bottom section. (1) created by weaving over 2 under 1. Main section (2) Check weave, embroidered with floral pattern. Section (3) echoes section (1). Section (4) at top left open. Between each section skein attached and wrapped. // Border: 2 pieces sandwiched, wrapped by stakes. Ends pulled through middle of sandwich at start and finish. // Handles: Handles 20cm in height. On hinges which are held in the border sandwich. Handles looped and sandwiched, wrapped in dyed skeined willow. // Lid: Curved rectangular, similar sandwiched border, one central skein applied to top and bottom, embroidered. // Dimensions: Base 20cm x 6cm. Height 8cm. Lid 22.5cm x 7cm. Top 23.5cm x 8cm. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: // Anything else to note about this type of basket: Border on one side broken away for half of length. // Anything else to note about this type of basket: –, The Ann Mary Pilcher Collection of Victorian Baskets (67/60-94) was collected by Ann Mary Pilcher in 1957-1967, mostly from junk shops and stalls. Mrs Johnstone, as she became, continued to collect Victorian baskets and donated this one to the Museum in 1984., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: BASKET, (key) // Accession number: 84/43 // … // Recorder: J. M. Betts // Date: 12.11.84 // Description: A finely made oblong cane basket. It has two bound cane handles attached to the top and a lid which fits into the rim. It has embroidered flower design on the sides and the lid. // Dimensions: Length: 24.0 cm Width: 9.0 cm Depth: 9.0 cm // Associated information: This basket is part of the collection purchased by the Museum in 1967. See Acc. Nos. 67/60–67/94 Purchased from Miss A. Pilcher … 67/82 is also a key basket. // Probably Victorian.’

1925 - 1899

Pilcher, Ann Mary (Donor)
Lawrence, Karen (Recorder)
O'Sullivan, Annemarie (Recorder)