Meet Simon of The Bumbling Basketeer - 2026 Hameware Awardee
The Barn’s new Hamewares Collection has arrived in our dedicated craft & design store, FOLD. Under the theme Rooted In Craft, this commission invited makers to design a unique product with aim of supporting FOLD customers connect with, immerse themselves in and deepen their relationship to the Barn’s Walled Garden vision through the work of our makers.
The Bumbling Basketeer was one of two makers awarded the Hamewares Commission and is run by Perthshire-based Simon Cooper.
Primarily working with wood and natural fibres, Simon specialises in oak swill basketry, hazel basketry and hand-bound brushes. With only two full-time swillers left in the UK, Oak Swilling is a critically endangered craft.
Made by weaving thin strips of riven oak around a steamed hazel rim, the baskets start with strips wood which have been boiled, and are then rived apart by hand using a knife and a mallet to obtain the raw material required to make the oak swill. The baskets are extremely hard wearing and were used historically in industry, agriculture and domestic settings. They are now used for a variety of modern uses, such as for gardening, foraging, or log storage.
His bespoke Oak Swill Baskets for this Hamewares Commission offer a meaningful way to deepen our relationship to the earth whilst highlighting a critically endangered craft.
Simon's uniquely designed basket is made from split oak with a hazel handle and integrated handholds make it practical for lifting or emptying. The shallow, open form allows gardeners to gather vegetables, herbs, fruits or flowers without damaging delicate crops, while the breathable structure allows air to circulate around freshly harvest produce.
The baskets are available now in FOLD, or via our website.
