Classic Nantucket Basket Purse
This elegant, elliptically shaped Classic Purse Nantucket Basket, traditionally and finely hand-crafted with hardwood base and top plate (available in Cherry or Walnut), features hand-beveled and tapered cane staves, meticulously placed close together leaving only a whisper of space between the staves to allow for the cane weaver to pass through.
Originally called a covered basket, a Friendship basket, but now known as a Lightship Purse or a Nantucket handbag, these elegant Nantucket Basket Purses were designed and made popular by Mr. Jose Reyes in 1948. Since then, this style of Nantucket Lightship basketry has been widely recognized as the supreme work of a skilled Nantucket basket weaver.
The body and lid of the Classic Nantucket Basket Purse is woven with fine Nantucket-grade cane weaving, very compact, giving the Nantucket Basket Purse the ability to essentially hold liquids - a hallmark of my basketweaving skills.
The traditional rattan reed basket rims are pre-drilled, then nailed with thin brass escutcheon pins, which are cut flush, peened over and sanded smooth. The basket rims are then single lashed in cane, with a broad piece of formed cane on top of the rims to cover the slim gap between the inside and outside basket rims. As in all fine Nantucket basketweaving, an additional piece of cane is used not only under the rims of the body, but also on top of the basket lid - covering the slim gap between the rims and the weaving.
I use only beautifully carved white oak for the basket purse handle, as it has both inherent strength and beauty, which will compliment your Classic Nantucket Purse. The handle will be attached to the purse with lathe-turned bone or ivory knobs and washers and a brass handle pin.
A bone or ivory carving (scallop shell or whale) will be securely attached to the basket lid. The carved purse latch peg will be bone or ivory to compliment the material of the knobs and lid carving.
The Nantucket basket hinges are traditional cane-wrapped leather, nailed through the rims for strength and durability, as are the front cane-wrapped leather closure loops.
An optional personalized ivory quarter-board, which is traditionally attached to the inside of the Nantucket Basket lid, is available for an additional $125.00. This board can be engraved with a first name, middle initial and last name.
A final finish of multiple coats of hand-applied varnish are applied to both the inside and outside of the basket purse body and lid. This brings out the full beauty of the natural materials, and helps to protect and strengthen the basket purse. All the hardwood parts are given even more attention to protect and burnish, bringing them a deep luster which is glass-smooth to the touch. These, and many other fine details, set my Nantucket baskets apart from all others.
My full-size Nantucket Basket Purse measures 10" long x 7" wide x 8" high at the basket rims and 12" high measured at the top of basket handle. Base of the Nantucket Basket Purse will be signed/dated.
Classic Nantucket Purse Basket
Although I am no longer accepting orders for the Classic Nantucket Purse Basket, I do craft one or two of these per year. When its ready for sale, you can purchase it directly from my Simply Baskets website.
