Shallow Nest of Nantucket Lightship Baskets

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”.    

Nest of three Nantucket lightship baskets, the swing handles, staves and the ears ( which attach the handle to the basket) are all carved from oak. The bottoms are made from pine and each are stenciled with the maker's mark, "R Folger Maker Nantucket Mass." Rowland Folger (1803-1883) is considered one of Nantucket's first makers of lightship baskets. His baskets are very durable and were definitely used as utilitarian.These three baskets were discovered in an attic, where they were living for the last 90 years...

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...

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...