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.

Hugh Chatham and Dan McClain

"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 creel as well as some very rare, one of a kind creels that are tucked away in private collections. The authors have also provided pertient information about the history and the makers of most of the creels. There is still much to learn about the subject and "The Art of the Creel" is as good place to start for anyone interested in fishing creels. (Note: There are no values given)

Excellent condition vintage split willow creel with leather trim and a front leather accessory pocket! This creel is 14" wide across its bottom. It has its original rear carry handle, front closing strap and buckle, and closing snaps on its pocket and all are in tack & working. This creel is tightly woven split willow! Marked #14 on its bottom and originally made in Japan for the American Tackle shops as were 98% of all creels since the early 1900's including the baskets that the famous Oregon Creel makers used to dress with their fancy tooled saddle leather. It was found without a shoulder strap which was always a "after market" purchase. The original owners name is inked on the back side but does not distract from displaying on wall or shelf. Nice addition to any collection or perfect to display in home, cabin, or lodge! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Scarce vintage fishing creel that was produced exclusively for the famous Sporting Goods Company in Vermont "Orvis". This whole wicker, center hole creel was in their 1950's catalog. It retains all its original wicker construction, lid hinges and front leather closing strap. It does have a vintage leather carry shoulder strap found with it. It is not a harness. Harnesses were "after market" purchases as an accessory item. The closing strap and its' buckle are still intack. This creel model can be seen in the collectors book "Art of the Creel" which we also sale. It measures approximately 14" across, 6 1/2" front to back and 8 1/2" high. It has a beautiful woven "overlap" top lid design with a turn of the century center hole configuration. Please click on its image for additional closeups!

Vintage 1930's Split Willow Fishing Creel with leather trim and front accessory pocket. This original creel still retains its rear carry handle and front closing strap & buckle. Although there is honest wear from years of use this creel has a nice patina and great display character. It is ready to hang and display! It is approximately 15" across its bottom. There was leather/canvas harness found with it (they were after market purchases) and is included. There is a 9" measure across the top of the back of the lid to measure your catch. Please click on its image for additional closeups!

This is a vintage 1930's tightly woven split willow fishing creel with leather trim and front accessory pocket. It is in nice condition and retains its' original rear carry handle, front closing strap(w/age lines/cracks but intact) & buckle, and pocket snaps! A canvas/leather after market shoulder strap is included with the creel! This fishing basket is approximately 15" wide across its base and 9" tall at the back. This creel would display beautifully in home, cabin or lodge! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Excellent condition and scarce "Turtle" Creel with the distinguishing carved Turtle closing latch. Nicely woven basket with darken trim around lid top. There is also a 7" wooden measure along the rear top of the lid to check your catch's size. Woven loops for a aftermarket harness are intack. The bottom is excellent with all woven material in place. This Turtle creel is measuring 15" across the bottom and 8" high at the back side. There was a harness found with this creel and it is included, made of leather & canvas. All four woven hinges holding the lid to the basket are fully intack too! PLEASE CLICK ON ITS IMAGE TO SEE ADDITIONAL CLOSEUPS!

This beautifully dressed leather fishing creel is by the famous A.E. Nelson Co. of Salem, Oregon, not the later address of Scio, Oregon! This creel can be seen illustrated on Page 108 of the "Art of the Creel" creel collectors book. Nelson began leathering creels just after W.W.II and this one is from that period. It is the original attached pocket model. In later years they developed a detachable pocket model too. It is embossed with their classic "chain" pattern and has a 11" measure embossed along its top hinge leather. The original rear carry handle and front closing strap and snap are all intack! This creel was found with a "after market" harness also made by A.E. Nelson with the matching chain embossing pattern and stamped on its back side with the Nelson name too. This is a tightly woven split willow creel in a original Nelson orange/brown stain finish! Beautiful patina! Overall condition is excellent! This is a large 16" wide at the base fishing creel. Please click on its image for additional closeups!

A beautiful small size "3" (13" across) 1900's center hole split willow creel hand leathered and hand buck stitched by R.Baird! He also created a matching harness which is included. Mr. Baird passed away in 2011 and less then 50 hand leathered creels by him exist in collections today. He was a nationally recognized artisan. The fishing creel is in excellent plus condition. Copper riveted. You rarely see creels this size let alone so nicely leathered and detailed. Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

A vintage Meier & Frank leathered split willow creel with a rich dark patina! This beautifully tooled fishing creel was made by famous Oregon creel maker A.E. Nelson for M&F. This is a tightly woven 15" split willow basket that was woven in Japan then imported to the United States to be leathered by creel makers of the period. In this case A.E. Nelson imported the basket did all the leather work and stamped it with the Meier & Frank name before they delivered it to the famous Northwest Store! M&F is long out of business but in its day was well known for their sporting goods department. This has an embossed fish measure on the rear of the top lid from 0" to 11". There was no harness found with this creel which was a "aftermarket" purchase anyway. This creel display really nicely and is very collectable! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Highly collectible "Clark" 15" fishing creel circa 1920's. The John Clark Saddlery Co. is considered one of the first major Oregon companies to begin leathering creels. He started in business in 1878 and died in 1923. The company was gone by 1927. You can see an example of this creel on page 95 of the "Art of the Creel" reference book. Clarks creels are much scarcer then George Lawrence or even McMonies. Clark rarely if ever marked his creels with his name. A few have been found with a marked button but they are extremely rare. His most often recognized detail is his closing lid strap passing thru the rivet position and cross stitched. Guaranteed to be a Clark. This is a 15" wide basket (measured across the bottom). All closing straps, carry handle, buckles, hand stamping/tooling are original! There is a 10" embossed measure across the rear top of the lid. A Clark tooled shoulder strap was found with the creel and is included. It is just beautiful in person. Great addition to any collection! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Mint/unused 14" split willow creel by Oregon maker A.E. Nelson. Pictures tell whole story...never used, beautifully tooled and including a high quality padded harness by Nelson too! They don't get any better then this! Signed on back A.E. Nelson in leather. Please click on its image for additional close ups!

Nicest Meier & Frank leathered split willow creel we have ever seen! Near mint! This beautifully tooled fishing creel was made by famous Oregon creel maker A.E. Nelson for M&F. This creel retains its original harness also by Nelson. This is a tightly woven 15" basket that was produced in Japan then imported to the United States to be leathered by creel makers of the period. In this case A.E. Nelson imported the basket did all the work and stamped it with the Meier & Frank name before they delivered it to the famous Northwest Store! M&F is long out of business but in its day was well known for their sporting goods department. This is as nice as they come! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

A beautiful large size 17" (width across bottom) 1900's center hole split willow creel hand leathered by R.Baird! He also created a matching harness which is included. The fishing creel is in excellent plus condition. Copper riveted. The cradle harness includes a vintage bird/fish knife in a sheath. You rarely see creels this size let alone so nicely leathered and detailed. The closing strap has silver buckles! The center hole is trimmed in Ostrich hide surrounded by nicely detailed leather. A rare 1900's center hole french weave creel with custom trimming! Mr. Baird passed away in 2011 and less then 50 hand leathered creels by him exist in collections today. He was a nationally recognized artisan. Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Unused condition is this beautiful Cradle Harness Fishing Creel. It comes with a standard harness too. There is a vintage knife in sheath on the harness that is included. This 1930's tightly woven split willow creel has been nicely green stained and then leathered and hand tooled by living creel maker Ken Haggard. This is a large 16" creel (measured width along the bottom). It has three leaping trout after a fly on line tooled into the leathered top! The rest of the leather trim is detailed with tooling patterns beautifully! Please click on its image for additional closeups!