BASKETRY
RESCUING, REVIVING, RETAINING
25th January - 23rd March 2025
Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining is a touring exhibition showcasing the designs, skills and techniques of traditional basketry in Wales. The exhibition forms part of the continued work of the Basketmakers’ Association’s Traditional Basketry Project supported by the The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers and delivered in partnership with Heritage Crafts.
The exhibition puts the spotlight on many basket designs currently on the endangered crafts list - contemporary basketmakers have recreated individual basket designs based on their studies of the few remaining originals in our museums today. Visitors can see for example a Lipwork Flailer's Measure woven with rye straw and stitched with lapping cane. Coiled by basket maker and guild member Colette Davies, it was inspired by a Flailer's measure in St. Fagans Museum of Welsh Life Gweithdy gallery. Used to measure corn in the 19th century by farmers when distributing corn to flailers, or corn beaters, as payment for their work on the farm.
Rob Knight has woven a fabulous Tregaron Peat Basket - only two originals are known to survive in museum collections. Dea Neile Hopton has woven in buff willow a Tea Service Basket, based on designs dating from the 20th century and most commonly used in Welsh farming households displayed on the Welsh dresser.
The exhibition has been curated by basketmakers Clare Revera and Mary Lewis who each have stunning examples of traditional basketry in the show. Clare's Llangwm Fisherwoman's Back Pannier in hazel and willow is based on baskets woven by the husbands of fisherwomen. A pannier could carry a hundredweight of fresh fish or shellfish. Women played a pivotal role in their cottage industry. Clare is a member of the Makers Guild Wales and runs many educational basketry and weave courses both at Craft in the Bay and at venues throughout the UK. Mary Lewis is the Endangered Crafts Manager at Heritage Crafts and actively involved in the Traditional Baskets Project.
A section of the gallery shows further contemporary baskets that are for sale. Stunning basket designs including wood baskets, rucksacks, tea service basket and cockle basket.
Exhibiting makers: Rachel Evans, Gill Jones, Rob Knight, Lewis Goldwater, Colette Davies, Mandy Coates, Michelle Mateo, Dea Neile-Hopton, Alisha Davidson, Lewis Prosser, Mark Dellar, Jo Porter, Clare Revera, Mary Lewis.
Workshops and basketry/willow weave demonstrations:
Thursday 27th February - Clare Revera demonstrating willow weave. A free event.
Sunday 16th March - Clare Revera teaching 'Weave your own garden trug'. A full day workshop, booking essential. £80
The exhibition puts the spotlight on many basket designs currently on the endangered crafts list - contemporary basketmakers have recreated individual basket designs based on their studies of the few remaining originals in our museums today. Visitors can see for example a Lipwork Flailer's Measure woven with rye straw and stitched with lapping cane. Coiled by basket maker and guild member Colette Davies, it was inspired by a Flailer's measure in St. Fagans Museum of Welsh Life Gweithdy gallery. Used to measure corn in the 19th century by farmers when distributing corn to flailers, or corn beaters, as payment for their work on the farm.
Rob Knight has woven a fabulous Tregaron Peat Basket - only two originals are known to survive in museum collections. Dea Neile Hopton has woven in buff willow a Tea Service Basket, based on designs dating from the 20th century and most commonly used in Welsh farming households displayed on the Welsh dresser.
The exhibition has been curated by basketmakers Clare Revera and Mary Lewis who each have stunning examples of traditional basketry in the show. Clare's Llangwm Fisherwoman's Back Pannier in hazel and willow is based on baskets woven by the husbands of fisherwomen. A pannier could carry a hundredweight of fresh fish or shellfish. Women played a pivotal role in their cottage industry. Clare is a member of the Makers Guild Wales and runs many educational basketry and weave courses both at Craft in the Bay and at venues throughout the UK. Mary Lewis is the Endangered Crafts Manager at Heritage Crafts and actively involved in the Traditional Baskets Project.
A section of the gallery shows further contemporary baskets that are for sale. Stunning basket designs including wood baskets, rucksacks, tea service basket and cockle basket.
Exhibiting makers: Rachel Evans, Gill Jones, Rob Knight, Lewis Goldwater, Colette Davies, Mandy Coates, Michelle Mateo, Dea Neile-Hopton, Alisha Davidson, Lewis Prosser, Mark Dellar, Jo Porter, Clare Revera, Mary Lewis.
Workshops and basketry/willow weave demonstrations:
Thursday 27th February - Clare Revera demonstrating willow weave. A free event.
Sunday 16th March - Clare Revera teaching 'Weave your own garden trug'. A full day workshop, booking essential. £80
The whole collection is on display in the gallery with a curated selection available to buy online.