Wedding gifts
Beautiful gifts for a magical day
View Guide
Anne and Alan Thomas
- 95 items sold
View shop
You just missed it!
You'll find lots more lovely treasures in our gift guides
Add to basket
Item details
Shipping & delivery
This item will be posted to you by Anne and Alan Thomas within 5 days of receiving payment.
| Shipping destination | Cost | Additional items |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| EU & Northern Ireland | Doesn't deliver here | |
| United States | Doesn't deliver here | |
| Rest of the World | Doesn't deliver here | |
We have retired - so our lovely Folksy shop has now closed.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and/or bought from us. It has been much appreciated.
If you have any queries you can still contact us via the “contact” button at the top.
Wishing everyone all the very best.
Making round baskets is the basis of all basketmaking - and I love making them - in all their shapes and sizes.
They may look simple but as my students often tell me - “I didn’t know there was so much involved”!
Whilst the sizing, willow variety and weaves are obviously set for this particular basket, baskets can be made to order - for any purpose, to your size requirements and your preferred willow variety. If you have something in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact me with your ideas. Commissions are always welcome.
The price includes P&P - if you wish to purchase more than one item from our shop, please contact us prior to placing your order so we can recalculate the postage and packing costs.
You have 14 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.
Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; items which deteriorate quickly (e.g. food), personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken; digital items.
Please note that if your order is being posted outside mainland UK, you (or the recipient) may have to pay customs or VAT charges and a handling fee. The seller is not responsible for any charges or fees that may incur.
Full description
A handmade round willow basket woven from Black Maul and Old French willow grown on the Somerset Levels.
A heritage craft, basketry is considered one of the oldest crafts in the world, pre-dating pottery - found in one form or another around the world using whatever local materials were available. Baskets were essential for storing and transporting things - and in fishing and agricultural - such as fish traps, crab pots and harvesting baskets. Every village would have had its own basketmaker - the last few surviving traditional crab-pot makers are hanging on to an ancient but declining skill.
Even in Roman times, Britain was renowned for having the best basketmakers - and the Somerset Levels were equally renowned for growing the best quality willow. Constantly monitored by the Heritage Crafts Association, The Basketmakers’ Association and The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, preserving skills, patterns and techniques is an ongoing project.
The traditional skill of basketmaking was waning in this country, but with current green living practices - willow-work fits in perfectly as a renewable and sustainable product which will last for many years and will ultimately biodegrade back into the earth.
I love every aspect of it and am constantly challenged by new designs and patterns.
So much can be created from a simple stick of willow.
A beautiful gift for a new home.
Base diameter 30cms x top diamter 36cms x height 10cms.
Enjoy your basket
Anne
Designed by Anne & Alan Thomas in Cornwall
More items from this category