An oak swill basket made the way our ancestors made them for centuries, with Scottish oak.
Simon is the only oak swill basket maker left in Scotland. Each purchase helps keep a critically endangered craft alive.
Critically endangered craft
As per the Red List of Endangered Crafts
Made in Perthshire, Scotland
In Simon's workshop
Made to last a lifetime
Using traditional techniques
This Oak Swill Fishing Creel is made by Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer, at his workshop in Scotland, near Perth. Swill basket making is a critically endangered craft, with only a small handful of makers now able to produce these traditional baskets.
These fishing creels echo the ones that accompanied anglers to Scottish rivers and lochs for generations. Built to withstand the elements, they were designed to carry the day's catch whilst keeping hands free for wading and casting. The open weave allows water to drain naturally, while the robust construction means they've outlasted most modern fishing gear.
Today, this creel makes a faithful companion for fishing trips, or a striking piece of functional heritage for the home. Fill it with kindling by the fire, or let it hold market pickings in the kitchen. Either way, you're carrying a piece of Scotland's craft legacy.
Making swill baskets is a long and laborious process, involving splitting wood along the grain, cleaving, dressing, and weaving each piece by hand, echoing the methods passed down by the last remaining swill makers.
By purchasing Simon's work, you are supporting a critically endangered craft.
Materials: Coppiced oak, boiled and woven with peeled hazel handle.
Dimensions: circa 36cm at widest point, 22cms tall. Adjustable strap circa 120cms-145cms total length
Care
- Perfect for logs, pickings and pantry. Wipe with a damp cloth if necessary & allow to air dry thoroughly before use.
- Lifespan: decades.
Craft Status
Critically Endangered
About the maker: Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer
Simon creates traditional oak swill baskets using split wood techniques, reviving one of Scotland’s rarest heritage crafts. Working with oak and hazel, he cleaves, dresses, and weaves each piece by hand, echoing the methods passed down by the last remaining swill makers. His work blends utility with quiet beauty, rooted in the rhythms of rural craftsmanship. Oak swill basketry is a critically endangered craft, with only a couple of people practicing the craft in the UK.
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