Object Details

From:NHerts

Name/TitleBasket Seller

About this objectScreenprint of a basket carrier by Marie Whitby. Whitby is better known for her pottery, running the Seven Springs Pottery in Ashwell until 2001. Our museum has two of her ceramic figures, object number 2021.50.1 and 2021.50.2.

In 2023 museum volunteer Chatherine Davis researched both Whitby and the Basket Seller.

"At 15, Marie began her artistic training at a further education pottery class, held at the Merchant Taylors’ School, in Ashwell, where her father was the headteacher. In the early 1950s, she studied at Chelsea School of Art, where her education included modelling. Following graduation, she worked making props for the Old Vic Theatre in London, staying for four years, after which she made this African visit in 1963.

Sadly, it isn’t clear why she went, although one possibility is that her sister Pauline, a nutrition expert working for UNICEF, was perhaps in Ghana then. The UN began working in the country, based in Accra, in the early 1960s, following the country’s independence from British rule in 1957.

As well as her ceramics training, Marie must have had fine art training, as she was a good painter and printmaker, as can be seen from this lively portrait of the basket seller. Presumably, as artist’s do, she sketched and took a great interest in her surroundings. People are a consistent theme in her work, so it’s likely she observed activities of those around her on this visit.

The subject of the print is a man selling handwoven grass baskets. Called Bolga baskets, these originate from the Upper East region of Ghana and have long been popular for their design and durability. Made from elephant grass, originally a local weed, these versatile baskets are hand-dyed and woven into intricate patterns, often by women makers to help supplement their family incomes. They currently have a ready global market, including in the UK.

Marie might have seen him at a market, or perhaps by the side of the road. As well as baskets, and two handbags, he is also clasping a pair of spears, so it’s possible his pitch was outside a hotel. After independence, Ghana saw increasing visitor numbers, some brought there by working for the UN, while others were attending the Pan-African conferences and international meetings organised at the time.

It is unclear if the picture were printed in Africa, although the note saying Accra, 1963 suggests it might have been. Printmaking would have been much easier to manage, if she had access to a print workshop, than making ceramics. The screenprint uses a limited range of colours, yellow, white and black, with green added by the coloured paper. This, too, may reflect her need for simplicity.

After her return from Africa, Marie set up the Seven Springs Gallery in 1964, which Pauline later helped to run. Pauline, as well as being a nutritionist, was also a successful published writer of science fiction".

MakerMarie Whitby

Maker RoleArtist

Date Made1963

Period20th Century (1901-2000)

Medium and MaterialsOrganic| Paper

Inscription and MarksThe initials MW stand out in white on the bottom left of this work.
Beneath the image text on the left reads "Basket Seller S/XX" and on the right "Marie Whitby Accra 1963"

Measurements500mm 420mm (HxWxDxDiam)

Named CollectionLetchworth Museum

Object TypePrint

Object number1993.40

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved