Basket types
There are many types of baskets traditionally used in Scotland and associated with traditional ways of life. In this section we have featured some that were commonly used at one time in different parts of Scotland at.
A note on basket names
We have found during our research that some baskets were referred to by different names in different museums and archives, or depending on who we were were talking to. At the same time a particular name could sometimes be used to refer to a range of completely different baskets. This is probably partly due regional variation in names, and partly due to the confusion caused by different languages like Gaelic, Old Scots and English used in Scotland. The titles of images will be connected with how the basket is labelled in museums or archives and these have not been changed. Creel or cliabh, for example is a general Gaelic term covering several forms of Scottish (and Irish) baskets. Scull similarly seems to be used for several different baskets of the frame style construction. In this section we have tried to mention all names by which a particular basket may be known but inevitably there may be omissions.
Angling Baskets
These baskets were used by anglers carry the fish that they caught. The fish would be dropped through the gap in the lid of the basket. And a leather shoulder strap was attached through gaps in the sides for carrying it.
View the “Angling Baskets” collectionBack and Pony Creels of the Highlands and Islands
The creel Creel(Gaelic cliabh) is a general term covering several forms of Scottish (and Irish) baskets. In this section we are talking about back creels and pony creels, which are sometimes just referred to as 'creels'. The design of back creels varied but can be divided into two main types, the east coast fish wife's…
View the “Back and Pony Creels of the Highlands and Islands” collectionBack Creel of the East Coast Fishwife
These back creels were used by fishwives to carry fish for sale. They were loaded with fish that the men had caught while line fishing, and the fishwives took them to sell inland and to places like Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, and other towns. They were similar in construction to the back creel used on crofts…
View the “Back Creel of the East Coast Fishwife” collectionBannock baskets
Go to many museums on mainland Scotland, and there are always one or two examples of these ubiquitous baskets, often, but not always, made in the Madeira style described by Liz Balfour in our blog.
View the “Bannock baskets” collectionBee Skeps
Bee skeps have been used across Scotland. They are made from coiled straw bound with what appears to be bramble.
View the “Bee Skeps” collectionCalf Muzzles
On the west coast of Scotland muzzles woven from willow were put on calves to prevent them from suckling for a while.
View the “Calf Muzzles” collectionCiosan
The ciosan is a small, closely woven basket, formerly made on the Western Isles and along the west coast. It is a coiled basket made from sea-bent (marram grass), or sometimes straw. The coils are stitched together using twine made from rush, marram, even split willow or bramble, or bought twine.
View the “Ciosan” collectionCoracles/Currachs
These were small boats used on rivers and sometimes around the coast with a woven framework of willow and often hazel, covered in animal hide.
View the “Coracles/Currachs” collectionCots and other homely things
This section contains basketry items found around the home
View the “Cots and other homely things” collectionCuddy or cubbie
A small basket called a cuddy in Shetland or a cubbie in Orkney used for holding bait. Made of heather, straw or dockens and sometimes with floss (soft rush), in a similar way to a kishie.
View the “Cuddy or cubbie” collectionCurling Baskets
The sport of curling originated in Scotland and special baskets made in two halves and hinged were made to keep the curling stones in.
View the “Curling Baskets” collectionEgg baskets
Used for collecting eggs these baskets are generally round and have sides that curve outwards from the base before coming straight up.
View the “Egg baskets” collectionFishwives Murlins/Top Creels/Bow Creels/Arm Creels
These are baskets used by fishwives of the east coast along with their back creels or rips. They were used to display a sample of fish to customers and usually to store a board and knife for gutting the fish. In the areas around Arbroath and Montrose where rips were used, the basket used had…
View the “Fishwives Murlins/Top Creels/Bow Creels/Arm Creels” collectionFruit baskets
Fruit baskets fit into more than one category of basketry. There were large stake and strand baskets used on fruit farms for measuring and transporting large quantities of fruit. There were also factory made lath fruit baskets, called 'chip' baskets or punnets. These were made using machine split wood that was woven and stapled together…
View the “Fruit baskets” collectionGrain Baskets and other sacks
More like sacks than baskets these grain baskets were used to carry grain to and from mills in the Western Isles. They were made from marram grass that was woven so tightly that it was almost waterproof.
View the “Grain Baskets and other sacks” collectionHampers
Large rectangular baskets or hampers were used for a variety of purposes often for storage and in transportation. The post office used large baskets on wheels for parcels in their sorting office, other hampers with lids were used to transport linen from hotels to the laundry
View the “Hampers” collectionHen/Ose/ Skye basket
This basket was a form of frame basket made by weaving around several main hoops and added ribs. By Dawn Susan.
View the “Hen/Ose/ Skye basket” collectionHorse Harnesses
At one time horse harnesses were woven from willow or grass
View the “Horse Harnesses” collectionKishie or Caisie
This basket called a Kishie in Shetland or a Caisie in Orkney is used in a similar way that the back creel is used by crofters in the Highlands and Islands off the west coast of Scotland. Rather than woody material like willow however, in Shetland, these baskets were made of oat straw, or sometimes…
View the “Kishie or Caisie” collectionKnitting Needle Baskets
Knitting Needle baskets were used to store needles and wool
View the “Knitting Needle Baskets” collectionLine Baskets
Line baskets were used by fishermen to keep lines, sometimes miles in length, with hooks attached to them which were baited ready for fishing. There was two types of line fishing, small line and great line and different styles of baskets were used for each. The baskets used also varied depending on the region in…
View the “Line Baskets” collectionSee also Great Line Basket and Line ScullsMuirlag/mudag
A Muirlag, or mudag, is a basket used to keep wool in before carding. These baskets are often rugby ball shaped willow baskets with a rectangular gap through which the wool is taken out for carding. Mudags for keeping wool in are found in other shapes and sizes, and made from other materials, however.
View the “Muirlag/mudag” collectionOrkney Chairs and other Seats
As well as the famous Orkney chairs a variety of other seats use basketry techniques
View the “Orkney Chairs and other Seats” collectionQuarter cran
Quarter Cran baskets of were widely used throughout Britain in the herring fishing industry. One cran is the official unit of measurement for herring, and quarter cran baskets were made to exact regulation measurements and had an official brand to certify it they were the correct size. They were used to unload fish from the…
View the “Quarter cran” collectionRip
This type of basket seems to be unique to an area around Arbroath and Montrose. A large frame basket with a strap for carrying it across the shoulders, it was used by Fishwives in a few villages in this area in the same way that back creels were used by women in other east coast…
View the “Rip” collectionSalt Baskets
These baskets were used in the salt production process in parts of Scotland. Containers of seawater were heated and the water boiled away leaving just a salt paste which was then put in the baskets for further purification and to dry out completely.
View the “Salt Baskets” collectionShopping Baskets
Shopping baskets came in a variety of shapes and sizes
View the “Shopping Baskets” collectionTattie Scull
Tattie Sculls were baskets used for collecting potatoes (tatties) on lowland farms. These were often spale baskets made from split wood, but could also be baskets made with a frame of oak or hazel and woven with willow or cane. In more recent times tattie sculls made from natural materials were replaced by wire baskets…
View the “Tattie Scull” collection