|
|
|
|
Rare Early Nantucket Basket
"Nantucket Island: Whaling port, Quaker stronghold, a sandy place isolated by a location thirty miles at sea, cut off from the mainland by frequent storms and wars, this is the setting in which this unique basket tradition developed" according to Katherine and Edgar Seeler in their book, Nantucket Lightship Baskets.
Because the Nantucket Basket was made by a group of people in an isolated community of families closely connected there is uniformity in their construction, not unlike Shaker and Taconic Baskets. As with all Nantucket Baskets from the third period (1830/40's) forward, the baskets were woven of rattan. This material comes from a climbing vine of the palm family and grows in tropical countries. It is also called "cane" and was used for chair seats and so was readily available to basket makers as well as from the whaling vessels that plied the South Pacific. The second and very important characteristic of a Nantucket Lightship Basket is the use of wooden bottoms. This allowed for the production of a very strong basket. Almost any type of wood that was available was used for these baskets, but usually it was a hard wood that was used. Finally, molds were utilized in the construction of these baskets. Because of this, greater accuracy regarding size was obtained and nests of baskets could be more easily made. Nantucket Baskets are noted for their homogeneous quality of beauty and workmanship. Beginning with the Lightship era, we see the baskets being made at sea by the men on Lightships, specifically No.1, Nantucket, New South Shoal, which was established twenty-four miles south of Sankaty Light in 1856. On this lightship, ten people lived and took care of the two lights. With nothing to do but clean the sixteen lamps and stand watch, they made baskets, continuing to do what some of them had been doing on land. Each man stayed on board for eight months at a time and in this isolation they produced some of the finest baskets made. It is interesting to note that this basketmaking activity has been compared to the "scrimshawing" activity on the whaling vessels, only on the lightship the scrimshawing meant preparing the strips of rattan for the manufacture of the baskets. Thus the romance of the Lightship Basket continues . . . conjuring up the lonely life of men on a ship anchored on dangerous shoals off Nantucket with nothing to do but tend the light and make baskets day after day. This basket is a very early, possibly one of a kind or made for a specific use. Note the style of the "Friend's" Baskets morphing into the traditional Nantucket style. Very reminiscent in concept to a Shaker sewing basket. . . Maybe for a child?, but surely a work basket of some kind. Circa 1870's, the condition is excellent . . . The patina as well as the condition is outstanding. Made of oak staves and rattan weavers, the base is made of 2 pieces of pine nailed together with tiny nails to receive the staves. Attached to the rim are two small brass ring handles. (We have seen rattan covered ones on larger Nantucket Sewing baskets). H 3-3/4" D (rim) 6" D (base) 3-3/4". This basket is truly a find for the collector. I doubt you'll find another. Truly an museum piece. From a private collection. It's early and it's rare.
$2200.00
R23F22006 Questions? Ask the Ferret!
|
|
|
