The William Morris Inspired Basket Collection
In response to being Maker in Residence 2025 at Kelmscott Manor, the home of William Morris in Oxfordshire, I have created a collection of baskets that showcase our willow basket heritage, all designed and created for the way we live today.
This exclusive range includes the Flower Basket, Meadow ‘B’ Basket and the Oval Basket. Each basket aims to revive traditional English basketry techniques, is inspired by the Morris family and their home and encapsulates the ethos of the Arts & Crafts movement. Designed and handcrafted by myself, each basket is both highly functional and beautiful. Comprising of:
Oval Basket - A striking oval basket, available in two sizes, created to be that essential basket in your life. Perfect for shopping, storing belongings and to have on display in your home. The Oval Basket highlights the beauty of prized locally sourced natural white willow and is designed by myself to showcase and revive heritage basketry techniques including the rare traditional English tied oval underfoot slath base. The advanced fitch basketry technique gives an open feel to a basket that is completed with a distinctive broad border and a wide bold red or antique brown burnished leather handle.
Meadow ‘B’ Basket - My latest interpretation of a traditional English Berry Basket inspired by the bark pattern on a mesmerising old willow tree in the meadow at Kelmscott Manor. This stake and strand method basket features the rarely made but highly traditional English underfoot tied slath base and the elaborate herringbone side weave. Deliberately made with local Somerset Levels highly prized natural white willow (striped Black Maul) and also Harrison’s B willow, a variety newly available, brought into commercial growing by Musgrove Willows.
Flower Basket - The perfect sized cut flower willow basket. Inspired by spending my time in the gardens at Kelmscott Manor and also in tribute to May Morris, daughter of William Morris who was an incredible pioneering Arts & Crafts designer, maker and teacher. Designed by myself, created to showcase your flowers, the Flower Basket is an interpretation of a traditional willow trug that is enhanced by a contemporary weave and colourful willow varieties sourced from the heart of the UK’s willow growing industry in the Somerset.
The William Morris Inspired Basket Collection will be exclusively sold at Kelmscott Manor, in my online shop and will be available at craft shows.