Pony creels have been in the air recently, well one phone call and two emails, which is significant for something that rarely comes up. The big problem with baskets is their lack of durability as a historical object. This is coupled with the fact that something that was common at one time does not get recorded in the same way as a rarer object. The result is that people know something existed but do not have an object to copy. So it was a real treat when I turned up at the last Scottish Basketmakers' Circle committee meeting to see Catherine and Pascal with a genuine pony creel.
Fortunately someone had had this creel in their possession and wanted a copy made. We were all over it, photographing, measuring, discussing weaves and generally admiring this wonderful piece of work. I look forward to Catherine and Pascal's copy.
It has also given me second thoughts as I have always imagined a Highland pony creel to look very similar to a peat creel. Back to the original dilemma, if you don't have an original to copy then it is down to guess work and supposition.
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