Scuttlework is listed in the Endangered Baskets in the UK Report (2020) as a critically endangered specialist basketry skill and technique. It involves cleaving and shaving thin slats of wood, and weaving over them with willow. Scuttlework baskets are incredibly strong, and have been used mostly in agriculture since the Roman times.
I first came across scuttlework when researching traditional baskets associated with viticulture, in connection with my family's vineyard. I found medieval drawings and black and white photographs from the last century of these huge baskets that people wore as backpacks whilst harvesting grapes. They're called Hottes or Hods across Europe, and feature the technique I've since learnt as scuttlework. Unfortunately, Hottes are now just vintage artefacts used to decorate the walls of wine bars - their use becoming obsolete with the mechanisation of viticulture and the replacement of traditional vessels with plastic ones.
So I set off on a mission to learn how to make a Hotte. After hours of research, I stumbled across an old Facebook post on the Basketmakers Association page which showed a Hotte in the making. I was delighted and quickly got in touch with the maker - a woman called Hilary Burns.
Hilary Burns MBE is a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers and is currently the only basketmaker practicing scuttlework in the UK. When Hilary learnt of the technique many years ago, there was no one to teach her, so she taught herself; picking up techniques from basketmakers in Europe and recreating baskets found in museum archives and old photographs; including the Hotte.
I was able to secure funding from the Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant programme to arrange a 4 day 1:1 training workshop with Hilary. I spent the week in her beautiful garden studio in Devon, learning the basics of scuttlework. I quickly understood why scuttlework was a critically endangered technique. The preparation of the slats is slow and time-consuming, and the weaving of the basket is physically hard work as its often done underfoot, with your back hunched over and muscles taught as you try to get the weave tight and the slats in their correct place. I was exhausted and yet energised by the end of the week, going home with my first two scuttles and a head full of ideas and excitement.
I now need to set up my workshop for scuttlework - commissioning the specialists tools I need, procuring the wood, and getting my greenwood working area ready - so I can get started on the long awaited Hotte. I'll be sharing updates along the way, so keep an eye out for more posts if you'd like to find out how I get on.
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