The highly collected decorative art of Nantucket basketry originated on Nantucket Island and likely evolved from earlier Native American designs. These baskets were sturdy to the degree that whalers and coopers of earlier days were likely an influence in the design as well. During the period from 1856 to 1900 these baskets were crafted during the free time of the sailors who were stationed on the lightships off of Nantucket. Made with carefully woven rattan around cane or hard wood ribs, these baskets also exhibited wooden bottoms and wooden handles fastened to the basket’s body by wooden or brass ears. Nantucket baskets were formed on wooden molds in a large variety of sizes and shapes ranging from a “one egger” to a half-bushel and bushel size.

The uses for these baskets were endless and often they carried eggs, berries, sewing supplies, potatoes, and were also used for marketing. To economize on space, these baskets were also crafted in nests and made to fit into one another in an ascending variety of sizes. Beginning in the 1870’s, Nantucket began to develop into a destination for tourism and as visitors came to the Island, they asked after these unique baskets being used by the locals. Soon the Nantucket basket became a saleable good and a memento one could purchase from an Island sundries shop and take home with them.

The hinged top that many people associate with Nantucket Lightship Baskets is a later addition, originally introduced by Jose Formoso Reyes in 1948. Many embellishments followed the conceptualization of these lidded baskets including many styles of ivory ornament for the lids, these carvings were both introduced and originally crafted by Charles Sayle in the 1950’s. Covered Nantucket baskets, intended for use as a woman’s purse, are known as Friendship Baskets and are highly collected and still used today by many women on Nantucket and throughout the world.

Currently, there are many artists crafting Nantucket baskets all across the country. We at the Four Winds Craft Guild are proud to feature over twenty local weavers who follow traditional methods and use traditional materials. Their efforts produce baskets that are genuine examples of the original baskets as well as newer contemporary styles and forms. Each is a unique, one of a kind piece of art that represents a long and quite successful legacy within the realm of decorative arts.