The Basket Weaver.

A lovely day out at Thriplow Daffodil Festival, which is also on tomorrow with more interesting things to see. This weaver was very skilled at basket making and they were all shapes and sizes. I was interested to learn a bit about this art. Basket weaving is one of the widest spread crafts in the history of human civilisation. The oldest known baskets have been carbon dated to between 10,000 and 12,000 years old and were discovered in upper Egypt, but they seldom survive due to the perishable materials used such as reed, cane,willow, oak and ash. Wicker furniture became fashionable in Victorian society. During both World Wars, wicker baskets were much in demand for transporting messenger pigeons, observation balloon baskets, shell case holders and airborne panniers for dropping supplies of ammunition and food to the troops. I remember learning at school that the circular, Welsh coracle boats were reinforced woven baskets. I also won a tombola prize of a lovely scarf and purchased some daffodils. Super day out.