99/32

Arthur Stevens (Manufacturer)

This is a rectangular basket with two side handles, similar in shape to a delivery basket. It is made from buff willow, with cane handles. It was made by Arthur Stevens in the 1940s. Mr Stevens was blinded by gas in World War I and then trained to make baskets by St. Dunstans School for Blind Veterans.

1 basket: buff willow and cane; fair condition

MERL ‘Stakeholders’ recording form, December 2013 – Object number: 99/32 // Name of recorder: Sue Kirk and Angie Tavernor // General construction method: Stake and strand // Overall shape: Square/rectangular // Materials: Buff willow and cane handles. 7-foot uprights, 2 year-old sticks for base stakes. 5-foot buff rods on base. 6-foot waling rods. 5-foot French randing rods. // Base: 9 x 2 year-old buff sticks. Row of pairing 5-foot buff randing. Uneven joining throughout the base. // Sides: 24 x 7-foot rods pushed through double base sticks. 18 x 7-foot rods inserted into base on the short sides. 3-rod wale, started by cramming tips into base. 4 rows of 3-rod wale. 4 sets of French randing starting with tips. // Border: 4 behind 2-rod border. Threaded away end of border. Not finished off very well, last rods should be brought to the front of the border. // Handles: Cane handles. Whole cane handle bow. Wrapped with thinner whole cane and secured beneath the waling. // Lid: N/A // Dimensions: Base 43 x 32 cm. Top 57 x 46 cm. Height at highest point along long side 33cm. Height at short side 28cm. Height to top of handle 36cm. // Anything else to note about this particular basket: In places making seems rushed and not carefully finished. Loose weave. However, shape and flow excellent for blind weaver. Obvious basket well used and various parts of basket worn and fragile. // Anything else to note about this type of basket: –, MERL Handwritten Accession Form (Museum of English Rural Life) – ‘Recorder: JMB // Date: 17.9.99 // Description: A rectangular open topped basket with side handles. Made from white willow. Woven. The shape is similar to a delivery basket // Dimensions: Height (+ handle): 34.0 cm // Width: 56.0 cm Depth: 47.0 cm // Associated information: This basket was made in the 1940s by // Arthur Stevens // St. Dunstans // Reading Road // Winnersh // Mr Stevens was blinded by gas in the 1st W.W. and then trained by St. Dunstans to make baskets.’

1940-01-01 - 1949-12-31

1940s

Wood, willow, buff, Plant fibre, rattan

St. Dunstan's School for Blind Veterans ()
Kirk, Sue (Recorder)
Tavernor, Angie (Recorder)