Object of the Month: August 2024

Kanowit people of Sarawak, Borneo

Rattan, rush; Date unknown

Dryad Ltd, 1969

Chosen by: Maria Chiara Scuderi, PhD researcher, University of Leicester

This basket was collected in Sarawak, Borneo, by the colonial administrator Charles Hose, who later dispersed his collection amongst different museums. In 1926, Harry Peach of Leicester asked Hose for “a collection of baskets showing the patterns possible”, and obtained this basket among other objects from Sarawak. Peach gathered the Dryad ‘Handicrafts’ collection with baskets from across the world to enhance craft practice education in early 20th century Britain.

From 21 September 2024 to 2 March 2025, an exhibition dedicated to Dryad basketry will show the linkages between Leicester and the wider world through these stunning objects of art and design.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout August at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.