| Baskets |
A mention of the word Belleek conjures up pictures in the mind of beautiful baskets for which the Pottery is famed - justifiably so for Belleek baskets are second to none. However the skill was first imported from Staffordshire, where a John Smith of Hanley is known to have been making parian baskets as early as 1863, and it was William Henshall, who came from Staffordshire, who introduced basket and flower modeling to Belleek. The earliest Belleek baskets were flat-rodded and unflowered. Then a small range of round-rodded baskets were introduced which included the Rathmore Basket, the Hawthorn Basket, the Triple Nest Basket and the Henshall Baskets named after William Henshall. With continued popularity the variety was increased. The manufacture of baskets is understandably complex. The parian ingredients are carefully ground before being mixed with gum arabic in place of the water used to produce the slip for other products. The resultant dough-like mixture is kneaded as though it were bread and then beaten to remove any air. Once ready for use the "dough" is placed in a "dod box". Working like a mincemeat machine, the dod box extrudes the mixture from the box in threads resembling spaghetti. These are cut into lengths and kept "plastic" until required by covering with a damp cloth. Modeling is a painstaking process. First the base of the basket is made, woven from two, three or four strands of clay at a time. The base is then placed on a plaster of paris mould and the lattice of side strands laid in place. The basket is finished off with a twisted ribbon of strands and is ready to take the applied flowers. these are all hand-made, using very few tools. Looking carefully at flowers one can quite often notice the fingerprints of the maker. |
DATING BASKETS |
| Baskets are often difficult to date exactly but there are some
characteristics which help. Early baskets usually had three or sometimes two strand bases
instead of the four strands which were brought in later. Also different impressed or
printed pads were normally applied to the base. The table below shows the recognition
features for baskets. When dating baskets, it is important not only to take into account the number of strands and the marks on the pads, but to look carefully at the quality of the flowers and the glaze. The early baskets have a greater variety and abundance of flowers, with a noticeable smooth and rich glaze. Also, apart from a few very delicate coloured baskets, early baskets are white. Lastly, early baskets have handles with thorns which represent briars, whilst later basket handles have grated porcelain applied which is quite different. Baskets without handles should be carefully examined to ensure that the handles have not been removed as a means of disguising damage. It is a very easy matter to overlook. |
| Date | Strands | Words | Pads | Mark |
| c.1865 - 1889 | 2/3 |
Belleek | 1 | Impressed |
| 2/3 | Belleek, Co. Fermanagh | 1, 2 or 3 | ||
| 1890 - 1920 | 2/3 | Belleek, Co. Fermanagh | ||
| *Ireland | 1, 2 or 3 | |||
| 1921 - 1954 | 4 | Belleek (R), Co. Fermanagh | 1 or 2 | |
| *Ireland | ||||
| 1955 - 1979 | 4 | Belleek (R), Co. Fermanagh | 1 or 2 | |
| 1980 - 1989 | 4 | *Belleek (R) Ireland | 1 or 2 | |
| 1989 | 4 | *Belleek (R) Ireland | Oval Gold | Printed |
| * The McKinley Act of 1891 required that the country of origin be marked on all imported goods. The capital "R" was added in 1955 as proof of USA registration. | ||||
Site designed by Michael at Tempo Web.