An Early Nantucket Basket Purse by José Formoso Reyes

An early Nantucket Basket purse by José Formoso Reyes (1902-1980) made circa 1955. Made from a 7-1/2" by 5-3/4" oval mold and measures 9-1/4" wide overall. Features an ebony carved Sperm whale ornament, knobs, and peg, The lack of date, use of ebony, and simple handle design all suggest this was made in the 1950s. Great condition with a rich patina.

We have been dealing in Nantucket Lightship Baskets since we moved to Nantucket in 1967. Over the last 50 years we have sold well over 2000 Lightship baskets! Please contact us for friendly, expert advice. We also offer repair services for your Nantucket Lightship Basket. Broken hinges, missing weavers, replacing carved ornaments are just a few of the repairs we can perform.