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Nantucket Basket Purse

Nantucket Cocktail Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
woven purse made during the first few years Reyes was making Nantucket baskets, having a cane weave on
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Pine

Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket with Original Paper Label
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
-1964). Sherwin Boyer was one of the first generation of Nantucket basket makers in the “purse
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Brass

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Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
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England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
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Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy

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Nantucket lightship basket by Davis Hall, 1880
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Round, open top Nantucket lightship basket in woven bamboo with oak stays, a slender carved oak handle with lollipop ends, and a round, hard wood bottom plate with two concentric scr...
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Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

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Very Early Nantucket Lightship Basket, circa 1860
Located in Nantucket, MA
Very Early Nantucket lightship basket, circa 1860, an oval open basket with wide splint staves, split wood rim, cane weave, solid birch bottom plate, and shaped swing handle attached...
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Antique 1860s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

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Cane, Wood

Davis Hall Nantucket South Shoal Lightship Hand Woven Basket, circa 1870s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and quite rare and hard to find nantucket lightship basket by Davis Hall, (1828-1906). Hall's baskets are prized by collectors of lightship baskets worldwide. This basket...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Wood, Cane, Rattan

Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket by Sherwin Boyer
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
With a dark rich patina. Made with oak staves, handle and a mahogany base. In excellent condition. Attributed to Sherwin Porter Boyer (1907-1964). Measures: 6”.    
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Brass

Nantucket lightship basket attributed to Mitchy Ray, 1900-50
By Clinton Mitchell "Mitchy" Ray 1
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Large vintage Nantucket lightship basket with heavy rattan rim and stays. The basket features a hinged and carved oak handle which is squared off across the apex and carved with the ...
Category

20th Century American Decorative Baskets

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Brass

Nantucket Lightship Basket, Made by Davis Hall on the South Shoal Lightship
Located in Nantucket, MA
Oval Nantucket lightship basket with shaped oak swing handle ending in carved round “lollipop” ends and brass ears. Remnants of the original paper label remains on the bottom. Made...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Nautical Objects

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Oak

Ira Hudson Canada Goose Decoy
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Hollow Canada goose decoy, attributed to Ira Hudson, of Chincoteague, VA. Hollow, with original paint - in as found condition. Chip shots and age to spare. Period: First quarter of ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Decoys

Materials

Wood

Ira Hudson Canada Goose Decoy
Ira Hudson Canada Goose Decoy
H 12 in W 22.5 in D 12 in
Nantucket Basket by A.D. Williams (1867 - 1927), circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Nantucket Basket by A.D. Williams (Nantucket: 1867 - 1927), circa 1890, an oval open Nantucket basket with cane weave on oak staves, with his distinctive carved swing handle ...
Category

Antique 1890s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Oak

Antique Covered Nantucket Lightship Basket by A.D. Williams
Located in Sandwich, MA
Rare antique covered Nantucket Lightship basket by A.D. Williams (1867-1927) circa 1900. Covered Nantucket Lightship baskets are some of the rarest examples and highly sought after b...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Wood

19th Century Nest of Three Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Nest of Three Nantucket Lightship Baskets, circa 1880, a graduated set of three round, open baskets having cane weave on rattan staves, a carved swing handle with an elo...
Category

Antique 1870s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Maple

Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket, Attributed to Geo Washington Ray
Located in Nantucket, MA
A small Nantucket lightship gathering basket with sturdy wooden ears, and a convex interior bottom with thee concentric lines typical of a George Washington Ray (1814-1891) made b...
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Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

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Cane, Oak

Rare 19th Century Covered Nantucket Basket
Located in Sandwich, MA
Rare antique covered round swing handled Nantucket basket attributed to Charles B Ray circa 1880. Covered 19th C. Nantucket baskets seldom come to market are highly desirable to coll...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century American Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan

Early Salmon Painted Nantucket Light Ship Basket, Late 19th Century
Located in Nantucket, MA
9” Open round salmon painted Nantucket Lightship basket with wooden ears and original paint. The nails on the interior bottom indicate this was probably used as a vegetable baske...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Primitives

Materials

Oak, Paint, Reed

Antique Charles Ray Nantucket Lightship Basket
Located in Sandwich, MA
Antique Nantucket Lightship Basket, attributed to Charles Ray (1798-1884) circa 1870. Swing handled small open round cane woven basket with rattan staves, carved swing handle with ov...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Wood

Large Round Signed Nantucket Lightship Basket by Folger
By Rowland Folger
Located in Nantucket, MA
10 ½” Open round Nantucket lightship basket with carved wooden oak ears with oak staves, handle and rim. The bottom is turned out of Pine and the interior is markedin ink with the or...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Folk Art Antiquities

Materials

Copper

Recent Sales

Vintage Nantucket Basket Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
Crafted by the originator of the lidded Nantucket purse style basket, Jose Formoso Reyes. Tall
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Ebony, Oak, Rattan

Unusual Round Covered Nantucket Basket Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
base clearly inscribed "Made on Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes" with outline of Nantucket Island and
Category

Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Rattan

Diminutive Nantucket "Cocktail Party Size" Basket Purse
Located in Nantucket, MA
By Nap Plank of Nantucket, one of the top Nantucket Basket artists working contemporarily on the
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Burl, Oak, Rattan, Rosewood

Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket Basket, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket basket, circa 1950, a diminutive free-woven basket
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Ebony

Vintage Antique Bone Nantucket "Ditty Purse"
Located in Nantucket, MA
One of the originals from the 1970's crafted from the traditional material of antique bone, this lovely example features a wood-reinforced bent bone handle, a wooden top with antique...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Nantucket Round Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
woven purse from during the first few years Reyes was making Nantucket baskets, having a cane weave on
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Pine

Vintage Jose Reyes Nantucket Purse with Rosewood Top, circa 1960
Located in Nantucket, MA
and the inventor of the Nantucket Purse. The basket is in excellent condition with a warmly darkened
Category

Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan

Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket by Sherwin Boyer
Located in Nantucket, MA
base. Sherwin Boyer was one of the first generation of Nantucket basket makers in the “purse” period
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Open Round Nantucket Signed Lightship Basket, circa 1950
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
bottom. Sherwin Boyer was one of the first generation of Nantucket basket makers in the “purse” period
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

Early Nantucket Creel Shaped Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early Nantucket Creel Shaped Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950s. An early free woven basket
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Rattan

Vintage Nantucket Lightship Rattan Basket by Rev. Warren Bouton of Nantucket
Located in Downingtown, PA
Nantucket lightship rattan-woven handmade basket purse of oval-form with carved scrimshaw scallop-shell
Category

Vintage 1980s American Country Nautical Objects

Materials

Wicker

Early Nantucket Friendship Basket by Jose Formosa Reyes
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
Very rare Nantucket lightship friendship basket shoulder purse by Jose Formosa Reyes. This early
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Primitives

Labeled Nantucket Lightship Basket by Sherwin Boyer, circa 1950
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nantucket basket makers in the “purse” period, starting in the late 1940s and working up until his death in
Category

Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman More Folk Art

Materials

Oak, Reed

Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket Basket, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket Basket, circa 1950, a diminutive free-woven basket
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Ebony

Nantucket Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
purse by adding a lid and a swing handle, launching the modern era in the Nantucket basket saga. Reyes
Category

Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Pine

Sherwin Boyer Nantucket "One Egg" Basket, circa 1960
Located in Nantucket, MA
) was one of the first generation of Nantucket basket makers in the “purse” period, starting in the late
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane

Nantucket "One Egg" Basket by Sherwin Boyer, circa 1960s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Sherwin Porter Boyer (1907-1964) was one of the first generation of Nantucket basket makers in the “purse
Category

Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Cane, Wood

Large 20th Century Susan Chase Ottison Nantucket Lightship Purse
Located in Concord, MA
Susan Chase Ottison very large oval swing handled Nantucket basket adorned with a carved bone
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Baskets

Materials

Rattan

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Nantucket Basket Purse For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal nantucket basket purse for your home. Each nantucket basket purse for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using natural fiber, cane and wood. There are many kinds of the nantucket basket purse you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A nantucket basket purse, designed in the folk art style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made nantucket basket purse has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Sherwin P. Boyer and Jose Formoso Reyes are consistently popular.

How Much is a Nantucket Basket Purse?

The average selling price for a nantucket basket purse at 1stDibs is $3,125, while they’re typically $900 on the low end and $5,600 for the highest priced.

A Close Look at Folk Art Furniture

Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.

Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.

Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Decorative-baskets for You

Antique and vintage decorative baskets can lend unique charm to any room. And basketmaking is hardly a lost art.

Evidence of basket weaving dates back tens of thousands of years, with one of the most intact examples found in the Judean Desert from the Neolithic period. Historically, baskets have mainly served utilitarian needs — to carry food, store materials and even hold water — but they could also be ornamental objects or have ceremonial or religious purposes.

Native American baskets come from a tradition steeped in generations of skill. There are new and made-to-order baskets from artisans who put their own spin on the ancient art as well as 21st-century pre-owned decorative baskets to complement any furniture style or design preference.

A metal basket or brass basket can match a modern or industrial-style home and add some contrasting rusticity. Wooden baskets, wicker baskets and natural-fiber baskets can easily harmonize with boho chic and cottagecore interiors.

Ceramic baskets are part of the pottery tradition, a craft with a deep heritage in human history. Ceramics are popular in decor again, and the personalization of handmade craftsmanship has served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators. Depending on a ceramic basket’s style, it can fit in with a more formal, cottage, Asian or Southwestern interior theme.

Browse 1stDibs for a wide selection of decorative baskets to fit any design need.

Questions About Nantucket Basket Purse
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Use a magnifying glass to identify an authentic Nantucket basket. Examine the bottom of the basket to find the designer’s signature and the date it was made. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Nantucket baskets from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.