Grain sack from South Uist

Steph — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:03:13 +0000

Similar to the plata-mhuilinn, this South Uist grain sack from Carnan is also woven from bent grass. It has 2 twisted grass handles rather than the eight handles of the Monach Island basket. It is similarly made from one flat piece folded over with the sides looped together. This example was collected by Isobel Grant and is held by the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie.
Reference: The Scottish Life Archive

Plata-mhuilinn

Steph — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 20:48:52 +0000

The plata-mhuilinn was a form of grain basket from `Heisker’, or the Monach Isles, which lie to the west of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.It is made from bent grass, or marram. Growing abundantly on the island dunes, bent was an important material for many forms of island basket on both the Western and Northern isles, and was also used for brushes, ropes, horse collars and pack saddle pads, mats, chair seating and nets. This basket or bag is constructed by folding a densely woven bent grass mat in two, and looping the sides together. It has eight handles made from twined grass. The weave is close enough to be almost waterproof and acted to protect grain and meal as it was taken to and from the mill by boat. This basket is also sometimes called a plata-skil. A wonderful example is found in the Baxter-Rintoul Collection at the National Museum of Scotland, held in their stores at Leith Customs House.
References and sources:
Scottish Life Archive
Caroline Dear

Carrying grain from the mill by boat – Woven Communities

Grain sack from South Uist

Plata-mhuilinn