As mentioned in a previous blog, my Jewel-Withy project is made up of five chapters and the first is willow. Withy pots are named after the willow tree branch known as a Withy.
A variety of willow commonly used by Withy pot makers, is called Salix Triandra or Black-Maul. It is very flexible, produces good rod lengths and is tough enough to withstand the sea. There are other varieties of willow also used which I plan to study also.
I purchased three little Black-Maul willow cuttings in the hope that they would survive in pots, as we haven't got a very large garden and I have heard horror stories about willow tree roots damaging houses! So far they seem to be thriving, so we are safe! Unless as stated in Wikipedia, “in English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself....” !!
Photo taken by Anna of a Black Maul cutting.
Black Maul tree leaves have beautiful serrated edges and also brightly coloured delicate catkins in the spring.
You may have noticed a few new willow inspired rings in my shop already :) I will be adding to this collection throughout the period of the project. I will also be sharing little sneak previews of show pieces which I will be launching at the exhibition next year! I plan for them all to derive from the willow tree and for each show piece to evolve as I research each chapter :)
Thanks for reading my blog :)
References
https://www.basketryandbeyond.org.uk/willow-basketmaking-structures/
Did you know that Uk traditional crafts are not classed as art or heritage! I'm proud to have become a recent member of the Heritage Crafts Association, who are working really hard to tackle this and safeguard these crafts for the future!
Sadly the craft of Withy Pot making is listed among many others, in the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. I don't know about you, but I think Withy pots are beautiful and they certainly form an important part in my partners family and our children's heritage!
My partners father Kenneth (Kenny) Thomas and grandfather Tommy Thomas were both fisherman based in Penberth Cove, Cornwall. Tommy was a withy pot maker and his pots were used by himself and Kenny.
Now here's something you might not associate with fishermen and that's flowers!!! In the winter months, when the weather was too rough to be out at sea, they grew violets. The family and other households were involved in picking, bunching and packing the violets into bunches of 14 or 16, which were neatly laid out in boxes and sent to Covent Garden in London, which were often purchased to be worn as posies! Their journey began by bus and the driver then delivered them to Penzance train station. Kenny wasn't so keen on working with violets! he much preferred his work at sea!
Sadly Tommy passed away in 1969, however he had passed on his knowledge of making 'Porthleven Style' pots to a fishermen called Robert George. Richard Ede, was taught the same style of pot, known as 'Porthleven Style' by David Chappel and Richard still makes them today in St. Ives, Cornwall! Apparently he might have a few stories to tell about Kenny, which I'm looking forward to learning about at some point along with more detail about the Porthleven Style pots! :)
Oh and if you want to learn a bit more about the valuable information about the Heritage Crafts Association Red List here is the link https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/
Thanks for reading!
Anna x
References
A huge thank you to Kathi Jones for sharing your families stories and photographs with me.
Penprase, J, Penprase, D. (2014?) Salt of the Earth. The fishermens friends. https://www.fishermensmission.org.uk/news/salt-of-the-earth/
Image 3. https://grovesnurseries.co.uk/violets
I have been planning this project for a few years now, but as some of you might be aware I had two little boys in between time who have taken up just a little bit of my time ;@) Covid-19 hasn't helped much either, but I can't complain, I have a healthy family and it's meant that I have been able to spend more quality time with my children whilst they are small.
Now just to recap on the project.... I am working towards an exhibition with the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, which is planned to be held for six weeks during the late summer and early autumn of 2022! The exhibition is based on the endangered craft of Withy Pots, specifically in the South-West of England and it's story told through a collection of jewellery that I design and make. There are five chapters to this story:
Willow
Withy pots
Fishing communities
Modern day pots
Future
These chapters will be featured in future blog posts and will form the layout of the exhibition.
I am very excited to also add that I will be collaborating with Cornwall College who will be delivering two live briefs with their Media students and Art and Design Students. The first brief is to record a film documentary based on the Withy pot makers and the second is for Art and Design students to attend a Withy Pot making skills workshop and to then re-use the techniques to create something new, such as ceramics or furniture! The final outcomes will be exhibited at the exhibition and also featured on my blog! I will of course update you on our progress throughout! So keep an eye out ;@)
The overall aims of this exhibition are to educate and ignite an interest in others to learn more about the craft and hopefully help save it from disappearing and to launch a new collection of jewellery which is not just to be worn, but also forms a part in telling the Withy pot stories. Let's not let this important craft be forgotten!
Thanks for reading! x
