Nantucket Lightship Basket by Davis Hall, circa 1880

19th Century Nantucket Lightship Basket by Capt. Thomas James (1811 - 1885), circa 1870, a round open swing-handled basket having cane weave on rattan staves with beveled edges, pine...

19th Century Nantucket Lightship "Peck" or Half Bushel Basket, attributed to Captain Henry F. Coffin (Nantucket: 1813 - 1889), a very large peck measure b...

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 elongated ovoid lozenge end connected to tin ears that extend down inside the weave for about a quarter length of a stave, and hardwood bottom plate, likely maple, that is slightly convex and scribed with three concentric rings, The baskets are not signed but are clearly all made by the same hand. The style of the handle with a lozenge end is very similar to that carved by Charles Ray, Capt. Thomas James, William Appleton and circle aboard the South Shoals Lightship, and continued in a more exaggerated manner ashore by A.D. Williams, Ferdinand Sylvaro and especially Mitchy Ray. The handle here has a more slender and elegant profile more akin to the work of Capt. James, suggesting that this nest was likely made by a sailor serving aboard the lightship during James' tenure. All three baskets remain in very good, strong condition, and enjoy a deep patina nicely darkened with age. Unlike most nests which really seem to be more of an assemblage gathered together after the fact, these three baskets nest together nicely with a uniform gradation in size, a feature exemplified by the perfect graduated profile of their handles. This nest was in the personal collection of noted Nantucket folk art...

Antique and extremely rare Nantucket "double lollipop" basket, circa 1900, a shallow oval swing handled basket with carved wooden staves, handle and bottom plate, and cane weave. The...

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 is made with his traditional swing handle and rounded lollipop connecting two ends. Hall cultivated his basket-making skill on the South shoal lightship after the American Civil War...

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”.    

Antique Nantucket Lightship Basket, attributed to Charles Ray (1798-1884) circa 1870. Swing handled small open round cane woven basket with...

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 by collectors. This one was made on an 10-1/2" diameter mold. Features a turned lid knob, brass hinge, ears, and shaped swing handle. Fantastic dark patina as you would expect from a 100+ year old basket...