Large willow butter basket

Date made: late 19th century

Maker: unknown

Description: This butter basket was used by Mrs Bridson, who lived at Cordeman Farm, near St Marks. The 1894 Brown's directory records William Hampton Bridson as a farmer at Cordeman, Malew, and Mrs Bridson was probably his wife.

The basket is made from woven willow, with a handle made from a thin lath of wood.

Basket making was once a common craft on the Isle of Man, the baskets finding numerous uses on Manx farms. This particular example was used for carrying butter, probably to market. The produce of the farms was sold in the main towns, supplying the demands of the many hotels and boarding houses which catered for the Island's summer visitors.

Measurements: 66 x 46.5 x 32 cm

Materials: willow, wood

Object name: basket

Collection: Social History Collection

ID Number: 1958-0311

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