Round Handling Baskets

Dicky Meadows willow variety. Dimensions: Width 28cm x Height 38cm.

Round Handling Baskets for Kelmscott Manor, once the home of designer, craftsman, environmentalist and revolutionary socialist William Morris & his family.

Commission for baskets that will be sited on the window seats in each room at the manor and contain objects visitors can handle. The basket needed to be of very specific dimensions and colour so as not to attract or detract attention in any of the rooms. The Handling Baskets are a traditional English Fruit Basket, chosen for this purpose because within the Kelmscott Manor collection there is a photo of May Morris’s cat sitting in this willow fruit basket. Methods include the round underfoot tied base and trac border.

Five smaller fruit baskets were also made in buff willow, to be used by children when undertaking activities at Kelmscott Manor’s Learning Barn.

As Maker in Residence at Kelmscott Manor 2025 it has been a pleasure for Sarah to study a range of heritage baskets, exploring traditional techniques and methods, then interpret and make these baskets specific to the manor’s needs. Price on application. 2026.
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