Creels

An example of how to create an area displaying a Creel, Net and Mount combination. Click image to see an enlarged photo. Note: Items not for sale, display only.

`With the advent of “catch and release” the fishing creel no longer has much utilitarian value. Instead, it is being recognized for its folk art appeal and the fine workmanship that has gone into many of the old creels. Further, the fishing creel is now widely recognized as a symbol of fishing and it is used in fishing art, logos and interior decoration. “The Art of the Creel” is a photographic perspective on a wide variety of creels, their makers, their materials and their artistic appeal. With more than 200 different creels photographed, this book provides a comprehensive look at all the major categories of creels as well a some very rare, one of a kind, creels that are tucked away in private collections. The authors have also provided pertinent information about the history and the makers for most of the creels. There is still much to learn about the subject and “The Art of the Creel” is a good place to start for anyone interested in fishing or folk art. Written by Hugh Chatham and Dan McClain / Photography by Gretchen Duykers / Dedicated to Daryll Whitehead / Published by Blue Heron Publications / ISBN 0-9659172-7-4 196 Pages **Please click on its image to see additional closeup ** Can be shipped "Book Rate"!

Large 16" early French weave split willow creel in excellent condition! This is a fine example of the early creels imported to the United States Tackle Shops pre-leather trim. It is also an example of the tightly woven creels that the famous Oregon Creel makers imported and then dressed with their fancy tooled leather. This creel measures approximately 16" across its bottom and 10" high at its back! Makes a great addition to any collection or as a display artifact for cabin, lodge, or home. The lid closure is intact and there are leather hinges at rear of top. There was no harness found with it and the harness were after-market purchases if desired. Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Nice vintage c.1930's tightly woven split willow fishing creel with leather trim. This creel retains its original rear carry handle, and has a front closing strap and buckle! This creel measures 15" wide across its bottom. There is a 9" measure across the rear top of the lid. It has a wonderful amber/copper finish with a dark brown leather trim! It was woven in Japan which is where most of all creel baskets came from for the American Tackle Shops. This includes the creel baskets used by the famous Oregon Creel makers who imported the baskets from the far east and then aplied their saddle leather with nice tooling designs! It has diagonal leather trim strips. An aftermarket leather shoulder harness was found with it. Please click on its image for additional closeups. Great one to collect or display!

This smaller scaled split willow creel was probably used by children to bring their catches home! It is marked on the bottom "12" denoting it's size which was measured across its' bottom width, twelve inches. This size creel is very scarce particularly in such great condition. This creel stands approximately 8" high and has a 7" embossed measure across the back of the lid top. To put this into perspective the standard size creel is on average 15" across its bottom and stands 9" high. The original carry handle, closing strap & buckle and front pocket snaps are original and all in working condition. C. 1930's this scarcer smaller size creel was made in the Far East (Japan) for export to the American Fly & Sporting shops in the USA. There was no harness found with this vintage creel which were after market purchases anyway. These are the same baskets that were used by the famous leather workers to dress with their saddle quality leather that they tooled and embossed and have become collectors creels today! These American makers were George Lawrence, Peters, Clark, McMonies, A.E. Nelson, Kenn's to name a few. Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

This is a 15" Split Willow Pocketed Creel with leather trim! C.1930's. Closing strap and handle still intact! It has an embossed ruler across the rear top of the lid. The split willow weave is a nice example of the "tight woven" baskets created early on. An after market leather harness c. 1940's was found with it and is included. Made in Japan for the American tackle shops and imported to the USA since the 1900's as were all the Oregon creel makers baskets that makers like G. Lawrence, Peters, & Nelson dressed with their high quality saddle leather and artful tooling & embossing.This creel is a great decorative piece for home or cabin and has lots of character. Please click on its image to see additional closeups !

As seen on Page 137 of the "Art of The Creel" this creel is a woven rattan "Hamper" style fishing creel! Well made, solid construction these creels were imported from the Far East to American Tackle Shops before and after the war. This one measures approximately 13" wide by 7 1/2" front to back by 10" tall. Closing ring on front is working great! Nice addition to any creel collection! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Nice vintage c.1930's tightly woven split willow fishing creel with leather trim. This creel retains its original rear carry handle, and has a front closing strap and buckle! This creel measures 14" wide across its bottom. There is a 9" measure across the rear top of the lid. It has a wonderful amber/copper finish with a dark brown leather trim! It was woven in Japan which is where most of all creel baskets came from for the American Tackle Shops. This includes the creel baskets used by the famous Oregon Creel makers who imported the baskets from the far east and then aplied their saddle leather with nice tooling designs! It has diagonal leather trim strips. An aftermarket leather shoulder harness was found with it. Please click on its image for additional closeups. Great one to collect or display!

Vintage George Lawrence "Supreme" model split willow creel in size "5". Nicely leathered and coming with an original George Lawrence harness with embossed/stamped logo and size 5. The creel is also stamped No.5 on the top front area of the lid. This creel measures approximately 15.5 inches across the bottom by approximately 10.5 inches tall at the back side. The basket is a tight french weave split willow. The Lawrence harness appears to be old/new stock. The harness does not appear to be used!!Carry handle, closing strap and hardware all intact! This is a large creel and collectable. Please click on its image to see additional closeups.

This is a nice example of an early Clark split willow creel leathered by the John Clark Saddlery Co. Portland, Or. founded in 1878. John Clark died in 1923 and his leather company continued for just another 4 years until 1927. Clark creels were rarely marked. They are most often identified by the way he applied his leather. "He first bound half of the top's edge, then inserted the strap for the buckle through the edge binding, stitching it above the binding with either a cross or a box, finally adding a rivet placed through the strap and edge for security". You can see an example of this creel on Page 93 in the Art of The Creel (lower left corner of thiat page). Original leather and hardware all in tack. There is a measure along the upper top of the lid at the rear of the lid top (11"). Unique tooling patterns are just great and a leather harness was found with the creel and is included ! This is a large tightly woven creel measuring 16 1/2" across the bottom. It is approximately 11" high at the back side and approximately 7" front to back. All Clark creels were hand stitched. Please click on its' image too view additional closeups!

This hand made creel from the late 1930's was known as "Kenn's"! Ceated by K.G. Mickeeman (Kenn's) Today his ceels are considered scarce and were construcked of the heavier quality leather used to make saddles and harnesses (the actual bends & prime parts of the hide and not the weaker "belly leather" ). His imported baskets featured tight french weave willow. He then applied his masterly leather work and was generally considered to have the strongest creels available. He reinforced the entire bottom circumference of the basket with the heavier quality leather and not just reinforcing the elbows like most of the makers in the Portland, Or. area were doing. This creel measures approximately 15" across its bottom, approximately 7" front to back, and approximately 10" high at its back side. There is a 10" measure across its top back edge of the top. All original hardware is in tack! It was found with a leather harness which is included (harnesses were after market purchases). A rare highly collectable creel by one the top leather workers of that era in unusally great condition!! Please click on its' image to see additional closeups!

Very rare No. 3 Split Willow Creel tightly woven by the George Lawarence Co. of Portland, Or. for the "Marshall Wells Hardware Store" chain! It is considered very rare for two main reasons:It was manufactured in few numbers and few in the smaller "3" size! Also it was ordered with an upgraded green stain (helped to originally protect the creel from water damage). This creel measures approximately 12 3/4" across the top and approximately 7" at the back side. The No.3 is stamped on the back side above the carry handle as is the logo for the Marshall Wells Hardware Co. below the size on the back. An after market leather harness was found with the creel and is included. The embossing patterns on this creel were exclusive to the Marshall Wells Hardware Co. and never used by any of the many other Lawrence Companies customers! All carry handles, closing buckles and straps are in tack! A very tough creel to locate in this condition! Please click on it image to see additional views!

Spectacular Cradle Harness fishing creel. This split willow is an older basket that was refurbished by a creel maker in Idaho. It has been cleaned & stained reddish/burgundy to help protect the willow from water damage.It has been completely re-leathered and a cradle style harness was created for it. It appears unused (minty) now! All rivets, buckles, strap, rear carry handle, and shoulder harness are intact and working great. Measures approximately 15" across its bottom, by approximately 6" deep, by approximately 9" high. 10" measure across the back top side of the lid. Signed on the top back by rear carry handle with the "Lost River" logo. Please click on its image to see additional closeups!