Mattapoisett Basket, by Gladys Ellis, circa 1940s

About the Item

Early Vintage Mattapoisett Basket, likely by Gladys Ellis, Mid 20th Century, a hand-crafted basket modeled after a Nantucket purse, having a flat oval "clamshell" lid hinged above an oval body, made of hand-stitched longleaf pine needles and raffia in braided and lace-like arrangements, with two braided raffia handles, a stitched hinge, and a silk lined interior, not signed. This is one of her very early baskets made before she started adding ivory tops and fixtures. The basket remains in strong original condition with no discernible breaks to the weave. There may have once been a loop closure at one point. Measures: 5-1/4 in H x 9 in L x 6-1/4 in W A local adaptation of a Nantucket basket first designed by Gladys Ellis (Mattapoisett: 1917 – 2011). The Mattapoisett basket is made in the shape and nature of a Nantucket basket, but uses southern yellow or longleaf pine needles and raffia coiled and sewn on a frame with a lace-like effect, often incorporating scrimshaw panels on the top and sides, sometimes as well as clasps and handle knobs as well. They are quite scarce, the work of one woman and her students. An elaborate example can take two years to make and can command a price up to $20,000. Gladys Ellis was born in New Bedford, one of ten children of German and English immigrants. She was a lifelong resident of Mattapoisett, and was a self-taught artist, seamstress, needle worker, upholsterer, furniture refinisher, scrimshander and basket maker. After becoming adept at scrimshaw and Nantucket baskets, she had the idea to create her own unique style of basketry. Gladys taught basket making for over 25 years in New Bedford, and was a faculty member at the annual Stowe Basketry Festival in Vermont. She was chosen as one of the best folk artisans in the United States for the magazine Early American Life’s Directory of Traditional American Crafts. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts acquired a Gladys Ellis Mattapoisett Basket for their permanent collection in 2015.

Dimensions:

Height: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)

Style:

Folk Art (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Other,Hand-Crafted

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1940s