On October 20, 2006, Olivia Elton Barratt will be installed as the Prime Warden (highest officer) of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, at the Lord Mayor’s Show in London’s Guildhall.
Olivia is the first female to hold this position of Prime Warden in the Company’s over 400+ year history and is also an actual basketmaker, which for the last several years, has not been the case for the Prime Warden.
Olivia has also been the Chair of the Basketmakers’ Association for five years and President for several more.
The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers is a guild that was formed in 1569 to set the standards of excellence in basketmaking and is ranked 52nd on the list of 107 guilds.
Each Prime Warden takes on a project for their reign. Olivia’s project is to recreate the 16th century 14-foot guardians of the City of London, Gog and Magog, in willow using basketmaking techniques.
These two large willow effigies will be featured prominently in the Lord Mayor’s Parade, which runs through the streets of London.
The giants represent Olivia, the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, and the Basketmaker’s Association members, too.
I feel very fortunate to be the only American member of the BA to help weave Gog and Magog during my McKnight Fellowship grant.
And that I was able to travel to England to study willow basketmaking and seatweaving, and that Olivia was my host during the entire 10-day trip.
I wish I could attend Prime Warden Olivia Elton Barratt’s inauguration in October, but I am not able to travel back to England right now.
Here’s a follow-up posting about the Lord Mayor’s Parade and Olivia’s Installation as Prime Warden, written by Liveryman Kay Johnson, who was also a maker of the giants.
Here is another post for more insight on this project and my travels with Olivia through England. English Willow Giants, Gog & Magog.
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~~Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much ~~
Happy Weaving, until next time!
