By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
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...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Ebony Decorative Baskets