Threads 95: Strawberry Pottle Baskets

Strawberry pottle baskets have an interesting history dating back to the 18th century. In the late 18th century, strawberries and other soft fruits were sold in conical baskets called pottles. These tapered containers were designed to reduce damage to the fruit at the bottom when stacked. Farmers would stack 50 to 60 of these conical pottles into square hampers for transport to markets.

An 18th-century English farmer in Bromley is credited with popularizing the use of the word "pottle" for these strawberry containers when he began sending his produce to London markets. 

In 1804, strawberries were sold in pottles "at sixpence per pottle" in London markets. Street vendors would cry out "Only sixpence for a pottle" when selling strawberries. The crier would add one penny to the price of the strawberries for the pottle itself, which would be refunded if the customer returned it.

There are two examples of pottle-like baskets in the museum collection. In the photo above is the first basket I made inspired by the pottle basket. This brown willow pottle basket is a conical basket with a long twisted handle. It is made of twined fine brown willow. The size is 12cm tall (basket only) or 27cm including the handle. The top diameter is 9cm, and the base diameter is 4cm.

The photo below is the second basket I made based on the strawberry pottle. This is an ornamental conical hanging flower basket (height 36cm, diameter 11cm) made of round reed dyed green, and brown willow. The willow forms stakes which are bound at the base with reed. The reed is then twined through the stakes up the sides. There is a twisted handle at the top for hanging.