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"!

Appears unused late 1940's Asian Wicker Fishing Creel with sliding peg lock to close lid (in style of the Ed Cummings Co. of Michigan). This creel has a rear carry handle with round circle metal hinges. Besides being used as a fishing creel we have seen many of these less expensive baskets used as decorative planters, centerpieces, and so on. This creel measures approximately 13.5 inches wide across it bottom at the widest point, 7 inches tall at its back and 6.50 inches front to back. Please click on its image to see additional views!

Appears unused late 1940's Asian Wicker Fishing Creel with sliding peg lock to close lid (in style of the Ed Cummings Co. of Michigan). This creel has a rear carry handle with round circle metal hinges. Besides being used as a fishing creel we have seen many of these less expensive baskets used as decorative planters, centerpieces, and so on. This creel measures approximately 13.5 inches wide across it bottom at the widest point, 7 inches tall at its back and 6.50 inches front to back. Please click on its image to see additional views!

This is a Orvis "Center Hole" Creel that was listed in their 1950 products Catalog. It was quite unusal with its' overlap lid/top design and a woven wicker divider in the creel creating an option to store fish and carry other gear or food. The basket was hand woven from whole wicker. It retains its 'original closing leather strap & metal buckle. It is in excellent condition and comes with an aftermarket harness found with the creel. Great finish patina. Collect or display in home, cabin or lodge. This creel measures approximately 14.5" across the bottom, 7" front to back, and 9" high. Please click on it's image to see additional views!

This is a beautiful and scarce leathered trimmed fishing creel with harness made in Japan during the occupation period (only for four (4) years at the end of WWII. This is a large pocketed creel with the snaps, closing buckle and strap, and rear carry handle in complete and fully functioning condition. Most all creels that were imported since the early 1900's came from Japan and Asia for the American tackle shops, including the baskets used by the famous creel makers like McMonies, George Lawrence, Peters, Clark, A.E. Nelson and the list goes on. This split willow creel came with a factory harness (normally an after market purchase). The bottom leather base has a "16" stamped on it representing its size, and also has the factory oval logo with its name "The Taxco Co. Made in Occupied Japan" It measures approximately 15 1/2 " wide across its bottom, 7" front to back, and 9 1/2" tall at the back . Please click on its picture to see additional views!

This is a scarce "Broadhead Low Boy" fishing creel manufactured by the Ed Cummings Co. of Flint, Michigan c.1938. It was woven in the United States and was constructed of wicker. It is in near mint condition and is complete with a leather/canvas harness, sliding wood latch to lock the lid shut and a pair of woven rings to create a secondary place to attached the aftermarket harness.The wicker shown has a rich amber finish and is woven with a slight curve on its' rear side to allow the creel to better fit he human body when the creel is worn. This creel was sold thru Abercrombie & Fitch, New York. This creel measures approximately 16" across its bottom, 7" front to back on the top, and 6" high at the back side. You can see this creel, beautifully illustrated, on pages 130 & p.131 in the "Art of The Creel". Please click on its image to see additional closeups!

Nice vintage George Lawrence Split Willow fishing creel with a leather sheathed Queen made fish/bird knife. The fish/bird knife is hanging from the side of the split willow basket on a leather strap. The Lawrence company was one of the premier Oregon creel makers in the City of Portland from 1923 to 1954! They used saddle leather , tooled, embossed, and split willow baskets some colored very effectively to provide additional water protection. This model was known as their "Supreme" series and is stamped with a "4" denoting its model size on the lid top. This creel comes from the late '40"s. The company logo stamping can be seen on the back side. This creel measures approximately 15" across the bottom, 7" deep (front to back), and 10" high at the back side. Dark brown finish patina! This creel was not found with a harness, which was an after market purchase anyway due to the large degree of waist size variations. There some minor split willow weavings that have separated. Barely visable is a 1/8" opening behind the strap where the knife sheath is attacxhed. However, bottom line this is a very collectable creel for home, cabin, or lodge! Please click on its image to see additional pictures!

Beautiful vintage George Lawrence Split Willow fishing creel. The Lawrence company was one of the premier Oregon creel makers in the City of Portland from 1923 to 1954! They used saddle leather , tooled, embossed, and split willow baskets some colored very effectively to provide additional water protection. This model was known as their "Supreme" series and is stamped with a "15" denoting its model size. This creel comes from the late '40"s. The company logo and size stamping can be seen on the back side. This creel measures approximately 15" across the bottom, 8" deep (front to back), and 11' high at the back side. Great brown/gold finish patina! This creel was not found with a harness, which was an after market purchase anyway due to the large degree of waist size variations. Bottom line this is a very collectable creel for home, cabin, or lodge! Please click on its image to see additional pictures!

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!

This beautiful creel was made by the A.E. Nelson Leather Co. originally in Salem, Or. . The Nelson Leather Co. started in Salem, Or. around 1938 but did not initially produce creels has part of their product offering until the mid 1940's. They offered a pocketed style creel and a non-pocketed. They tanned the leathers in different finishes....this one is what they called their dark chocolate. This creel has the Salem,OR. stamped on the back by the rear carry handle! This creel measures approximately 16" wide at its' bottom. Notice how the Nelson Co. reinforced all corners, edges, and creel base to strengthen the split willow basket. The Nelson family made creels for many well known retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Meir & Frank, and numerous well sporting shops around the country! A harness was found with this creel and we are including it too. The snap closure on the A. E. Nelson creels is another nice touch being very solid and alm most exclusive to their sytem of closing the lihds down. This creel has great history and would make a nice addition to any collection! Please check out our pictures to see additional views.

This a scarce McMonies Buckstitched Split Willow Creel with tooled leather trim. It is their Model Number 50 (no pockets or zippers) & this one is a size "5" approximatley a 16" wide basket at its base. Both these numbers are stamped in the leather on the back side by the carry handle. Although the correct name of the company is spelled McMonies many of their creels bare a metal cartouche with the company name shown as MacMonies. McMonies placed a large order of the metal cartouches to attach to their creels but when they came misspelled the creel maker did not want to waste them and as the story goes he insrutcted his workers to use them until they were gone! The "Art of The Creel" book devotes a whole chapter (Chapter 5, page 79-89) with pictures and a wealth of information about the McMones creels! A leather tooled harness unmarked was found with the creel and is included!All hardware seems to be intack....this is a beautiful creel that was covered with a "clear coat seal"which was done to protect the creel from water damage. This top of the line antique creel would make a great addition to any collection! Please click on its image to see additional closeups!