History / ‘Intricate craftsmanship’ on show in new museum display
A NEW display which explores the local tradition of basket and rope-making has taken pride of place in the Shetland Museum.
The Crafts of Foragers display – located on the museum’s first floor – includes a small collection of Shetland baskets, highlighting the wide range of native plants historically used to create everyday items essential for life on the islands.
The museum said the exhibit was developed in response to the growing local interest in sustainable practices and the historical use of plants.
It added that long before the advent of modern materials such as plastic, rubber and cardboard, Shetlanders relied on their deep knowledge of native plant species, selecting them for their unique properties like strength, pliability and rot resistance.
Curator Carol Christiansen said: “Straw and other plants were an integral part of daily life in Shetland for millennia.
“The skills involved in making these items were so commonplace that they often went unremarked upon. Our ancestors foraged at optimal times in the growth cycle, creating a wide array of essential items with just their hands and a few simple tools.
“The display allows visitors to appreciate the intricate craftsmanship and resourcefulness that defined everyday Shetland life.”
The display includes detailed information on a variety of indigenous plants and parts of non-edible grains that were used to create household items, tools and toys.
In addition to physical objects the display also explores the specialised language surrounding Shetland plant crafts.
Visitors can learn about traditional terms like baett, describing the plaited bundle of prepared stems for drying, or birliband, a strap across the mouth of a basket.
Christiansen added: “We hope this display will also serve as an educational extension to the museum’s winter straw craft club.
“Over the last two winters we’ve been sharing traditional straw-craft techniques, and we look forward to continuing these workshops later in the year. We want the public to engage with this heritage and pass these skills on to future generations.”
Meanwhile details of the winter straw crafts club is expected to be announced shortly.
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