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Willow Basket or Handbag with English Leather Handles - Handmade in Cornwall 634

Willow Basket or Handbag with English Leather Handles - Handmade in Cornwall 634

£75.00
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Shipping & delivery

This item will be posted to you by Cornish Craftwork Basketry & Alan Thomas Photography within 5 days of receiving payment.

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VISIT OUR WOODTURNING RETIREMENT SALE FOR SOME GREAT GIFTS - ALL AT 40% OFF

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Welcome to Cornish Craftwork Basketry and Alan Thomas Photography - beautiful rush and willow basketry along with stunning limited edition photographic prints taken mainly in the Devon/Cornwall landscapes.

If you are interested in learning more about taking photographs then feel free to contact us for details of Alan’s 1-1 workshops.

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POSTAGE & PACKING

All our prices include postage and packing.

Sadly - in view of the recent price increases we will be posting at 2nd class rate from now on.

As we work with natural materials and in a sustainable way, we are making a conscious decision to re-use packaging as much as possible. As far as we can, it will be recyclable or biodegradable. Where it is not, please re-use it again as often as possible before carefully disposing of it.

Nonetheless, please be assured that all parcels will be carefully packaged. If you require something gift wrapped then please let us know.

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If you wish to purchase more than one item from our shop, please email us prior to your purchase so we can recalculate postage and packing costs.

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Thank you for shopping with us.

One day Becs appeared at my regular market stand at a Makers Market in Tavistock. Becs is a leather worker and asked if I would be interested in having leather handles on some of my baskets.. Such a simple question but one which gave my inspiration and skill challenges such a boost. We have now been collaborating since 2021 and we are both loving it.

Steamed Black Maul Willow is such a beautiful willow both to work with and visually - it has such a shine to it.

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 us 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.

Read the Folksy Returns Policy.

Full description

A classy oval willow basket/handbag handwoven from Steamed or Black Maul willow and finished with English leather handles handmade by my friend Becs Ball from Bosorne Leatherwork. All handmade in our small workshops in Cornwall.

Size: 30x22; Top 27x20; H23; Handle length 40

Basketry is considered to be one of the oldest traditional crafts in the world, pre-dating pottery - found in one form or another in almost every country in the world. Baskets were essential for storing and transporting things and in fishing and agricultural - such as fish traps, crab pots and harvesting baskets. Every village or district would have had its own basketmaker - the last few surviving traditional crab-pot makers are hanging on to an ancient but declining skill.

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 and Basketmakers’ Associations, preserving skills, patterns and techniques is an ongoing project.

The traditional skill of willow weaving was waining 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 has traditionally been handed down from generation to generation. Ultimately they will biodegrade back into the earth.

So much can be created from a simple stick of willow.

A beautiful gift for her.

Designed by Anne & Alan Thomas in Cornwall

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