Nantucket Basket Tall Oval Offset
This narrow oval Nantucket Lightship basket features a cherry wood base, cane staves and extra fine cane weaving, with traditional Nantucket basket dyed rattan reed rims.
A contemporary new Nantucket basketry design element is the off-set double-drop carved cherry wood handles, attached with bone basketry knobs and brass washers on the sides of the basket, rather than the the rims, as is more common and traditional.
The traditional rattan reed basket rims are pre-drilled, then nailed with thin brass escutcheon pins, which are cut flush, peened over and sanded smooth. The basket rims are then single lashed in cane, with a broad piece of formed cane on top of the rims to cover the slim gap between the inside and outside basket rims. As in all fine Nantucket basketweaving, an additional piece of cane is used not only under the rims of the body, but also on top of the basket lid - covering the slim gap between the rims and the weaving.
The cherry off-sets, which are chamfered on the ends are sanded smooth, are then cut shaped to fit precisely to the sides of the Nantucket basket, securely nailed both inside and out. This new Nantucket basket design allows the handles to by-pass the traditionally nailed and lashed rims without rubbing, and gives this basket a much more contemporary design look.
A final finish of multiple coats of hand-applied varnish are applied to both the inside and outside of the basket purse body and lid. This brings out the full beauty of the natural materials, and helps to protect and strengthen the basket purse. All the hardwood parts are given even more attention to protect and burnish, bringing them a deep luster which is glass-smooth to the touch. These, and many other fine details, set my Nantucket baskets apart from all others.
This unique and stunningly different Nantucket basket measures 6" long x 4" wide (not including the off-sets), 4.25" high to the rims and 8.75" high to the top of the handles.
Tall Oval Offset Nantucket Basket
Although I am no longer accepting orders for the Tall Oval Offset Nantucket Basket, I may craft a few of these per year. When available for sale, you can purchase it directly from my Simply Baskets website.
