Raffia-work kit
Atlas Handicrafts
Category
Toys
Date
Unknown
Materials
Cardboard and Raffene.
Measurements
Box - 365 mm (length); 205 mm (width); 32 mm (height), Skein of raffene - 195 mm (length), Cardboard bases (min - 89 mm (diameter), Cardboard bases (max) - 155 mm (diameter)
Place of origin
Manchester
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662374
Summary
A Raffiawork kit in its original box. The kit is for making raffia and cardboard mats and baskets, using 'Raffene', the trade name for 'Atlas' synthetic raffia. There are four sizes and colours of mat or basket to be made, each of the cardboard bases colour-printed with the colours to be used, in stripes, and a cartoon image in the centre of a woodland creature: Mr Squirrel, Foxy, Countess of Parrot and Lady Woodpecker. Three of the items have been started, but none completed. There is a piece of cardboard inset into the base of the box, folded to form three compartments which hold the cardboard bases and the skeins of Raffene. The needle needed to complete the mats and baskets is also accommodated, speared through another small piece of cardboard which slots into the folded compartment. Underneath this cardboard piece are twelve pieces of Raffene and a small newspaper cutting featuring a photograph with the caption 'Nadia Nerina dances with the Royal Ballet'. The skeins of Raffene are held in place in the middle compartment on a separate piece of cardboard by means of a strip of paper which is colour-printed in red, black and white with information about Raffene and its manufacturer, reading 'For Rafia Work with a Difference', 'Continuous Lengths, No Waste, Non-fraying, Uniform Width & Colour, Light, Fast, Smooth Silky Finish'. The original cardboard box consists of a base and lid. The base is plain white but the lid is colour-printed both on the top and inside. The kit is called 'Raffiawork Revels' with the tagline 'You'll love making these gay mats and baskets this Story book way', and the images and text tell a story to explain how to make the items. Total number of items is 21.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs Christine Brumbill in September 2006.
Makers and roles
Atlas Handicrafts, maker