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
These Oak Swill Star Baubles are made by Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer, at his workshop in Scotland, near Perth, from remnants of oak swill basket making. By purchasing these baubles, you're directly supporting the continuation of swill basket making - a critically endangered craft with only a small handful of makers left who can produce these traditional baskets.
Each star is crafted from the leftover strips of coppiced oak from Simon's basket work, ensuring nothing goes to waste. The stars come threaded on varying colours - red, black, yellow, or green - and each one is beautifully unique. Some are fatter, some are thinner, some more symmetrical than others - this is the joy of handmade. No two are exactly alike.
These baubles make a wonderful addition to your Christmas tree, bringing a piece of living craft heritage into your home. They also make thoughtful gifts for those who appreciate traditional crafts and sustainable making.
Making swill baskets is a long and laborious process, involving splitting wood along the grain, cleaving, dressing, and weaving each piece by hand. These star baubles are born from that same careful work, giving new life to every precious scrap of oak.
If you'd like a particular style or thread colour, please get in touch and we'll try our best to accommodate your request.
Materials: Coppiced oak offcuts, nylon thread
Dimensions: Small approximately 12-15 cms across, medium approximately 19-23 cms across
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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