Mystery basket

Ankaret Dean | Mar 04, 2020

In order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lanark Village settlement, the Lanark Highlands Basketry Museum is planning a very special exhibition and workshops for the 2020 season.

A couple of years ago the museum was given a basket found hanging in a barn in McDonalds Corners. It was obviously used for farm work, and made with  rough split ash splints and the top strengthened with a willow rod.  

This combination of materials interested me. Split black ash splints woven in plain weave  is typical of the indigenous basketry of this area. However, the use of willow is typical of baskets made by the settlers from Scotland and Ireland. 

My interpretation of this mystery basket is that at sometime the two different basketry materials were put together to make a strong agricultural basket. I wonder who made this  basket and when?

I am hoping to do further research, but until then I shall be using the basket as a symbol of the settlement in1820. This summer at the museum I shall  be teaching a gathering basket as a momento of the settlement

We shall hold workshops every month to make black ash splints, weave the basket and use willow for the rim. 

In order to be able to accomplish this, I am looking for an intern to work with me this summer and help with the workshops. If anyone is interested my website will have the details... https://www.lanarkhighlandsbasketrymuseum.ca/