Matilda Grover
Basketweaver
Lewes, United Kingdom
Traditional baskets handcrafted with simplicity
- Matilda is a designer, maker and basketweaver
- She uses natural materials sourced near her home
- She strongly believes in sharing her knowledge to benefit communities
Matilda Grover is a Sussex-based basketweaver specialising in contemporary baskets and woven items. Her creations reflect her personal style and interest in functional, understated products. Deeply connected to the natural world and committed to living and working sustainably, Matilda works with the same natural locally sourced materials that generations of basketweavers before her have used. She also draws inspiration from historic and global basketry traditions. "The techniques passed down through generations are the foundation of my work," explains Matilda. "Basketry is at once technical and free, which suits my working style. I like to think that when someone really analyses any basket, they develop an appreciation and understanding of the time it takes to weave an item," she says.
INTERVIEW
Making a basket or woven item often takes me a few iterations. It all starts with ideas that have been brewing in my head for a little while. When the making begins, I seek a rhythm in weaving the piece. Some pieces come together easily, while others require refinement and remaking.
I love ancient baskets and handcrafted items. My inspiration for contemporary baskets often stems from there. I like my work to be easy to read and uncomplicated. Simple lines and clean shapes offer great inspiration and starting points for me. Processes specific to basketry also inspire some of my designs.
I make most of my work using locally accessible willow, hazel and rush. I harvest hazel near to my home and use a mixture of cultivated and local willow, as well as rush from rivers in Suffolk and Bedfordshire. On walks, I always lookout for other materials I can use and experiment with.
I have a strong interest in community education and have taught design and making workshops. This has deepened my understanding of the positive impact design and making can have on people and their communities. I believe making and weaving processes are innate skills, and sharing my craft knowledge is a privilege.
