Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Basketwork furniture making

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • The market for basketwork furniture is quite small at the moment, but could conceivably be built up with the help of influencers in high-end retail etc. However it would be a mistake to do this before capacity was created through the training of apprentices. On the other hand, if apprentices were trained and the market wasn’t then realised then those trainees could be made redundant. The mitigating factor is that they could fall back on other basket making activities, despite the fact that historically these crafts were always separate.
  • Due to the reduction in the industry, tree sticks of the right specification are no longer being produced. PH Coate & Son Ltd pollard and boil their own tree sticks but anyone else getting into the craft would have to source a supplier of this four-year growth material.
  • The nails used to construct the furniture are no longer produced in the UK and it is often not cost-effective to import them other than in vast bulk.
  • The craft requires a great deal of upper body strength.
  • Straightening irons are not available off-the-shelf and would have to be blacksmith-made to specification.
  • There is a great deal of financial risk in taking the time away from production to train up an apprentice who may then leave. This is not so much about them setting up in competition, but more to do with the lost investment of time.

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

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Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.