Traditional baskets

I am pleased to introduce my new range of handmade baskets, whose design is inspired by traditional baskets which are no longer produced commercially. At present the range consists of:

The Bramley basket
The Foxglove basket
The Morel basket

The range offers a variety of styles and sizes, and there should be a basket for most purposes. The Bramley basket offers vegetable gardeners a hard wearing basket suited to a wide range of uses; the Foxglove basket may be of interest to flower arrangers; the Morel basket is perfect for gathering fruit, vegetables and fungi.

Bramley basket

These are based on a traditional west country basket called a Devon Splint, which in its home region was the Sussex trug of its day. Splint baskets consist of a steamed sweet chestnut handle and rim, sweet chestnut splints (slats on the sides) and a larch base. The whole thing is fixed using copper and bronze nails.

Splints are a slightly heavier, more robust basket than a similar size trug. However, they do have one distinct advantage over their Sussex cousins – they have a flat bottom. This enables the user to stand flower pots, bottles, jars, etc, in them without them falling over. They are also ideal for collecting anything from potatoes to apples.

Within this range there is a choice of two different styles; rectangular or round. The rectangular baskets are approximately 16 x 12 inches (407 x 306 mm) and the round are approximately 12 inches (306 mm) in diameter. Both styles come in a range of heights:

Small: approx. 5 inches (127 mm) deep (excl. handle)
Medium: approx. 7 inches (178 mm) deep (excl. handle)
Large: approx. 8 inches (203 mm) deep (excl. handle)

Prices start from £42 (excl. del.)

Foxglove basket

This simple style of basket is ideal for collecting cut flowers without them getting crushed. Each one consists of a unique steamed silver birch base (keeping the natural edge wherever possible) and a steamed sweet chestnut handle, all held together using copper tacks. The baskets come in a range of lengths from 16 inches (407 mm) to 22 inches (558 mm) long. The standard basket comes without feet, but for a more refined look they are also available with silver birch feet, making them perfect for display in the home or elsewhere.

In the near future I hope to be able to offer a range of different decorative wood options for the bases of these flower baskets. (Please contact me to see what is presently available.)

Prices start from £27 (excl. del.)

Morel basket

This range of baskets is based on a regional French design. It is a light but very strong style of basket with an open structure, making it suitable for the collection of fruit, vegetables and fungi. The basket consists of a series of cleft and shaved hoops made from coppiced sweet chestnut or ash, depending on availability. All the components are steam bent and fixed using copper nails.

The basket has a relatively flat base, so flowerpots can be stood upright inside, making it ideal for use around the garden. The gaps between the slats let any dirt fall through them before the basket is brought into the house.

At present this style is only made to order. Prices start from £48 (excl. del.)