{"title":"Mike Lilian","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviving a Lost Craft, One Willow Basket at a Time.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMike Lilian\u003c\/em\u003e is a self-taught basketmaker whose work blends deep historical research with material mastery. Leaving behind his job as a postman, Mike devoted himself to reviving the endangered craft of willow basketry after discovering a single photograph in an encyclopaedia. He taught himself the techniques through books, trial and error, and time spent with Canterbury’s Cooperite community before refining his practice in France at the Coopérative de Vannerie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow based on his own willow farm in Kakanui, Mike grows, harvests, and hand-weaves every basket using traditional tools and heritage techniques like fitching. Each piece is a study in precision and patience, shaped by a genuine commitment to preserving this centuries-old craft.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fitched-willow-market-basket-02","title":"Fitched Willow Market Basket","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking hand-woven basket made by Mike Lilian, using a traditional willow weaving technique called\u003cspan class=\"unknown__pt__mark__italic\"\u003e fitching \u003c\/span\u003eoriginating from the East Anglia region of England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis technique has been used for centuries, characterized by its distinctive, and often decorative weaving pattern which involves using thin willow rods to create a strong and flexible basket to use for a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach basket is hand woven in natural willow in varying colours, and unique in its willow variety and style, no two are the same. A beautiful basket to use while market shopping, or picnicking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorking from his own willow farm in Kakanui, Mike hand-harvests materials to create each basket with traditional tools and remarkable attention to detail. His dedication to rescuing and perfecting this craft has garnered him widespread recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569323633,"sku":"MIK-001","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer5062.jpg?v=1740542971"},{"product_id":"fitched-willow-market-basket-04","title":"Fitched Willow Market Basket","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking hand-woven basket made by Mike Lilian, using a traditional willow weaving technique called\u003cspan class=\"unknown__pt__mark__italic\"\u003e fitching \u003c\/span\u003eoriginating from the East Anglia region of England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis technique has been used for centuries, characterized by its distinctive, and often decorative weaving pattern which involves using thin willow rods to create a strong and flexible basket to use for a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach basket is hand woven in natural willow in varying colours, and unique in its willow variety and style, no two are the same. A beautiful basket to use while market shopping, or picnicking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorking from his own willow farm in Kakanui, Mike hand-harvests materials to create each basket with traditional tools and remarkable attention to detail. His dedication to rescuing and perfecting this craft has garnered him widespread recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569389169,"sku":"MIK-002","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/mike-lilian-fitched-market-basket-1.jpg?v=1775782895"},{"product_id":"fitched-willow-market-basket-03","title":"Fitched Willow Market Basket [03]","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking hand-woven basket made by Mike Lilian, using a traditional willow weaving technique called\u003cspan class=\"unknown__pt__mark__italic\"\u003e fitching \u003c\/span\u003eoriginating from the East Anglia region of England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis technique has been used for centuries, characterized by its distinctive, and often decorative weaving pattern which involves using thin willow rods to create a strong and flexible basket to use for a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach basket is hand woven in natural willow in varying colours, and unique in its willow variety and style, no two are the same. A beautiful basket to use while market shopping, or picnicking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorking from his own willow farm in Kakanui, Mike hand-harvests materials to create each basket with traditional tools and remarkable attention to detail. His dedication to rescuing and perfecting this craft has garnered him widespread recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569421937,"sku":"MIK-003","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer4152.jpg?v=1740543145"},{"product_id":"willow-perigord-harvest-basket-large","title":"Willow Perigord Harvest Basket [Large]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Perigord basket, also known as the spiral basket is from Dordogne in France. Originally designed for collecting Potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, and mushrooms so the dirt can fall out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fluid, harmonious form that is beautiful to look at in its symmetry, the personality of the weaver is reflected in the basket. Mike has mastered the Perigord technique, which is difficult and these baskets are works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese basket can be used for harvesting and collecting in the garden, or around the home as a decorative object.\u003cbr\u003eThey look fantastic hung on the wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from natural willow, hand grown, harvested, soaked and woven by Mike, in Kakanui, Aotearoa.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Large","offer_id":41700902568049,"sku":"MIK-004","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer1257.jpg?v=1738901099"},{"product_id":"willow-perigord-harvest-basket-small","title":"Willow Perigord Harvest Basket [Small]","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Perigord basket, also known as the spiral basket is from Dordogne in France. Originally designed for collecting Potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, and mushrooms so the dirt can fall out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fluid, harmonious form that is beautiful to look at in its symmetry, the personality of the weaver is reflected in the basket. Mike has mastered the Perigord technique, which is difficult and these baskets are works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese basket can be used for harvesting and collecting in the garden, or around the home as a decorative object.\u003cbr\u003eThey look fantastic hung on the wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from natural willow, hand grown, harvested, soaked and woven by Mike, in Kakanui, Aotearoa.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Small","offer_id":41700902535281,"sku":"MIK-005","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/smallangle.jpg?v=1740194406"},{"product_id":"willow-square-market-basket-mixed","title":"Willow Square Market Basket","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569684081,"sku":"MIK-008","price":360.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer5077.jpg?v=1740545305"},{"product_id":"fitched-willow-market-basket-01","title":"Fitched Willow Market Basket","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569716849,"sku":"MIK-009","price":459.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer5066.jpg?v=1740542815"},{"product_id":"fitched-willow-storage-basket-brown-medium","title":"Fitched Willow Storage Basket","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569782385,"sku":"MIK-010","price":498.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer4229.jpg?v=1739853740"},{"product_id":"willow-trivet-pale","title":"Willow Trivet","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569847921,"sku":"MIK-012","price":160.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer4049.jpg?v=1739853711"},{"product_id":"willow-trivet-brown","title":"Willow Trivet","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569880689,"sku":"MIK-013","price":160.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer4044.jpg?v=1739853629"},{"product_id":"willow-trivet-natural","title":"Willow Trivet","description":"","brand":"Mike Lilian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41544569913457,"sku":"MIK-014","price":160.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9675\/9409\/files\/TestJAN30Frazer4047.jpg?v=1739853659"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.handcraftedmodern.co\/collections\/mike-lilian.oembed","provider":"Handcrafted Modern","version":"1.0","type":"link"}