Of course, one needn't only keep vegetables in this basket, but we decided to name it thus, as the spiral form originates from a Périgord basket making tradition whereby food from the field would be carried home in it, and en route, the basket dipped in to the river. The open weave would allow the water to pass through the basket and wash the vegetables, ready for use.
Our baskets are woven from a combination of English willow (Dicky Meadows, Purpurea) and French (Helix, Alba). Please note that the seasons can dictate which rods are used, and this results in a varying tone from grey greens to chocolate browns. The weaving process demands they are made without pause in one go, to ensure the stretch and pattern remains consistent. For Judy Simmonds who makes them for us with love in her beautiful Devon farmhouse, the making process is a form of meditation: ‘Nudging 120 carefully selected and soaked willow rods to a rhythmically precise pattern in an ever-outwardly expanding curve over several uninterrupted hours is a new challenge every time, even after ten years of making.’
Please note that owing to the willow being a natural product, and each being hand made, our baskets can vary slightly in shape, size and colour.
Dimensions (please note these can vary quite a bit owing to their each being made by hand - but typical dimensions are):
