Early Nantucket Creel Shaped Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950s

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Early Nantucket Creel Shaped Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950s

About the Item

Early Nantucket Creel Shaped Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950s. An early free woven basket (made without a mold) that features a pentagonal creel-shaped pine bottom and maple top plate, carved swing handle, rattan staves, and cane weave that assumes an oval shape; the basket is mounted with a carved ebony Right Whale, handle knobs, and closing peg hand crafted by Charlie Sayle; the signature on the bottom "Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes, with an etched outline of the island, is worn and faint but remains legible. The Right Whale is an unusual and very rare departure from the standard Sperm Whale typically seen on Nantucket baskets. 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. Charlie Sayle (active: 1940s to 1980s) was a Nantucket fisherman renown for his scrimshaw, ship models, shadow boxes, half hulls and other folk art. He was approached by Jose Reyes around 1950 for ideas to adorn the top of his Nantucket purses. Sayle first carved ebony Sperm Whales for him, and then carved whale tooth sperm whales, flying gulls and outlines of the island. The basket is in excellent condition with a warmly darkened patina. Measures: 6-1/4 in H x 8 in L x 6 in W

Dimensions:
Height: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
Style:
Folk Art (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Cane,Rattan,Hand-Carved,Hand-Woven
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1950-1959
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1950
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Nantucket, MA
Reference Number:
Seller: AD - 281-631stDibs: LU903936099512