Jose Formoso Reyes

Vintage Jose Reyes Nantucket Cocktail Purse, circa Early 1950s, an early petite free-form creel-shaped covered basket with cane weave on cane staves, swing handle held by early copper rivets, and having a carved ebony sperm whale by Charlie Sayle mounted on a maple top plate, the lid fastened by carved ebony peg, the pine bottom signed "Made In .U.S.A. , Jose Formoso Reyes." This is an exceptionally early purse by Reyes that has a five-sided creel shaped base that weaves out as an oval; the basket was woven free-form without a mold and so exhibits a delightful slight bombe or pot-belly shape; the signature on the bottom is a rarely seen variant stating "Made in the USA" instead of "Made in Nantucket" and does not yet include an engraved silhouette of the island. This is a beautiful early Reyes basket in the very desirable and hard to find diminutive "cocktail purse" size. Jose Reyes (1902 - 1980) was born in the Philippines and moved to Nantucket immediately following World War II in 1947. He met Mitchy Ray, the last person on island still making Nantucket baskets at that time, and learned the craft. Within a few years Jose adapted the traditional Lightship basket form to a purse by adding a lid and a swing handle, launching the modern era in the Nantucket basket saga. Reyes remains highly revered and collected as a great innovator and the inventor of the Nantucket Purse...

Very early vintage Nantucket Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes (1902 - 1980), Nantucket, circa 1950, an oval covered basket in the form of a woman's purse with cane staves and weave, shaped swing handle attached to rim by copper rivets, a carved ebony sperm whale by Charlie Sayle mounted on maple top plate, ebony peg, and birch bottom plate engraved "Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes" with outline of the island. The basket remains in great condition, with a deep, warm honey patina. The cane-wrapped leather hinges have been replaced at some point in the past, as is expected when the basket sees regular use. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a superb, early Reyes purse that has no whale bone or ivory, and so is unencumbered by any restrictions to travel in and out of the country. Measures: 7 in H x 7-3/4 in L x 6-1/2 in W Biography: José Reyes was born in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on September 15th, 1902. After schooling in Santa Maria, Jose came to the US and graduated from high school in Portland, Oregon he then received a BA from Reed College. He also received a scholar- ship to Harvard University and graduated with an M.Ed. Following his marriage to Mary E. Ham of Massachusetts he returned to the Philippines. In 1935 he joined the staff of the Philippine Military Academy becoming head of the Department of Languages and Social Arts. In December of 1941 José joined the US Army. After the Philippines liberation in 1945, José returned to the US and his family. He was discharged from the Army with a rank of Captain and automatically received his American citizenship in 1947. That summer, José moved to property owned by his inlaws on Nantucket. Unable to find a teaching position, José first worked as a house painter and repaired cane and rush chars. A picture in Life magazine of a basket with a cloth top gave him the idea to apply his weaving training learned in the Philippines to a possible money making venture on Nantucket. He was befriended by Mitchell Ray, who showed him the craft of weaving a Nantucket Lightship Basket. With Mitchy’s encouragement and a few of the molds that he had inherited from his father, José’s new career was launched. In the summer of 1948, José developed the “Friendship Basket...

Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket Basket, circa 1950, a diminutive free-woven basket (without using a mold), with hexagonal creel-shaped pine bottom and top plates, cane staves and weaves in a slight, graceful bombe (swelled belly) shape, carved wooden swing handle, whittled wooden latch peg, and carved ebony sperm whale by Charlie Sayles, signed on the bottom "Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes" with an inscribed outline of Nantucket Island. The basket was very well used and loved, and has developed a deep rich patina over the past 70 years. It remains in very good, strong condition, with replaced hinges and latch loop (expected if used after ten years or so), and some minimal replaced weave and rim wrap. Reyes baskets are of course the most sought after of all the Nantucket purses...

Jose Formoso Reyes "Cocktail Purse" Nantucket basket, circa 1950, a diminutive free-woven basket (without using a mold), with hexagonal creel-shaped pine bottom and top plates, cane staves and weaves in a slight, graceful bombe (swelled belly) shape, braided leather shoulder strap, and carved ebony sperm whale and latch peg by Charlie Sayles, signed on the bottom "Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes" with an inscribed outline of Nantucket Island. The basket looks like it was barely ever used, and remains in excellent original condition, with no darkening from age in spite of having been woven 70 years ago. The leather shoulder strap has partially worn through on one side at point of attachement, which will be a very quick and easy restoration. Reyes baskets are of course the most sought after of all the Nantucket purses...

Open oval Nantucket Lightship Basket woven without a mold. Measure: 9 ½”. Having a oak swing handle, staves and ears and Pine bottom and copper fasteners. Signed on the bottom by Jos...

Very rare Nantucket lightship friendship basket shoulder purse by Jose Formosa Reyes. This early form was the prototype of today's Nantucket purse. T...

Rare large round form with sizable unembellished ebony top with great deep black color. Handle affixed to rattan-woven body by boldly turned knobs, with carved eye and turned peg for...

Crafted by the originator of the lidded Nantucket purse style basket, Jose Formoso Reyes. Tall form with ebony top surmounted by a delicately carved ...