| If you are a basket enthusiast, you might be | | | | Appleton, Captain Andrew J. Sandsbury, Captain |
| interested in taking a trip to Nantucket Island, | | | | James Wyer, and George Washington Ray. These |
| Massachusetts to visit the Nantucket Lightship | | | | men charged $1.50 for smaller baskets and $50.00 |
| Basket Museum. This establishment preserves the | | | | for a set of eight, which was extremely good |
| history and culture of the Nantucket basket | | | | money at this period of time. |
| weaving heritage. | | | | After 1900, the sailors ceased to weave these |
| Although the early Indians of Nantucket Island had | | | | homemade baskets, although people living on the |
| long weaved wooden splint baskets for storage | | | | island soon picked up the trade. Men such as |
| and to gather crops from the fields, this style of | | | | Clinton Ray and A. D. Williams built up successful |
| basket weaving was adopted by sailors aboard | | | | basket weaving businesses. In the late 1940's, |
| the Nantucket lightships (hence, the name). | | | | Jose Formoso Reyes designed a cane basket that |
| Beginning in 1854, these lightships were sea | | | | included a carved ivory whale on top and the |
| vessels that served as on-sea lighthouses, | | | | "Friendship Basket "was born. Originally sold for |
| anchoring along the shoals and ledges along the | | | | $15.00, these baskets are the basis for the |
| Nantucket coastline that could prove to be | | | | Nantucket lightship baskets that are available |
| disastrous for larger vessels. Being stuck on these | | | | today. |
| ships for tours that could last up to eighteen | | | | The Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum was |
| months, the crewmen that manned these | | | | formed after a successful exhibit of these |
| stationery vessels took up this form of basket | | | | historical baskets and was funded by all of the |
| weaving as a way to pass the time as well as | | | | Nantucket basket weavers as a way to preserve |
| using this talent to earn extra money. The last | | | | and pass on the heritage of their craft. Situated in |
| lightship was retired in 1973, although the basket | | | | an older home on the island, the Nantucket |
| weaving trade that was done by the crews of | | | | Lightship Basket Museum has many of the original |
| these ships ended much earlier, in the beginning of | | | | baskets that were weaved by these hardy men |
| the twentieth century. | | | | so many years ago. The establishment also has a |
| These Nantucket lighthouse baskets were | | | | gift shop where you can purchase baskets |
| originally made of a variety of different materials | | | | designed in the original style. It also offers classes |
| while rattan (split cane), that was imported from | | | | for youngsters between the ages of eleven and |
| the South Pacific, was utilized only to repair these | | | | sixteen as a way to keep this basket weaving |
| items. The sailors soon began to use this material | | | | tradition alive. These tutorials are free thanks to |
| for most of the basket, using different materials | | | | funding from the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation, |
| for the bottom boards, the rims, and the handles. | | | | although there is a $50 charge for supplies. |
| There are no known "sets" of these baskets that | | | | If you are interested in basket weaving that is |
| were designed before 1860. | | | | rich in tradition and history, a visit to the |
| Beginning in the late 19th century, the Nantucket | | | | Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum may well be |
| lighthouse baskets had become a flourishing trade. | | | | worth your while. The building is located at 49 |
| Some of the best basket makers during this era | | | | Union Street and you can contact the museum |
| included Captain Charles Ray, Davis Hall, William | | | | by calling 508-228-1177. |