Materials for Design

Willow (Salix spp.)

Willow is to England like Teak is to Asia, both evoking particular associations: with willow it is cricket greens and the sound of leather against the creamy wood. Willow is a wonderfully adaptable tree, used for everything from flood defences to basket weaving. Its timber can easily be carved, and is most famously used for the crafting of cricket bats. The use of willow in basket making is a uniquely honest process, where the designer is not only processing the materials and converting them into objects, but also growing and harvesting them. The process of making wicker begins with the material in its most natural state. Lee Dalby, one of the UK’s most well-known wicker craftsmen, describes cultivating willow in the winter, ...