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The Nantucket basket, the wooden bottomed, finely made rattan basket, often called a “Lightship Basket”, evolved from the oldest of crafts. A great variety of baskets were used by white settlers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the Native American’s made and used baskets for storage and the transport of household goods. Early baskets were made with materials that were readily available at the time, namely ash, oak, or hickory. In the early eighteenth century, as whaling ships had to travel further into the Pacific Ocean, they brought back a material called rattan. The introduction of rattan into the weaving process is one of the key elements that create the distinctive look of a Nantucket basket. Other elements are a turned flat wood bottom and the use of a mold.
As maritime traffic increased, the demand for safer navigation became louder. The United States government authorized and commissioned lightships to mark coastlines and noted dangers. The first Nantucket lightship was built in 1853, called Nantucket South Shoal, it was anchored off the Davis South Shoal. The crew was divided into two watches and they divided work evenly. To occupy their free time and to make extra money, sailors took basket making materials on board. It was in 1856 that the first record of bringing basket molds on board was recorded. For the next fifty years, lightships were anchored off Nantucket. The year 1905 saw the end of service by the Nantucket islanders. It is from this era that the basket received the “Lightship Basket” moniker. |
Nantucket Basket Bracelet
3/4" Wide Saturday May 10th 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuition: $125 Materials: $20 Closed Students will make (1) 3/4' bracelet. 
Bracelet with Ebony End Caps.
Bracelet with Cherry End Caps
Bracelet with Holly End Caps
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Nantucket Basket Bracelets
Spend a fun filled day in our workshop and create this elegant Nantucket Basket Bracelet. In this class, you will cut and shape the metal cuff to your desired size (S, M, L, XL). Using 1/4" rattan staves and 1.50 mm cane, you will weave the cane between the staves and around the back of the cuff. End caps made of either holly, ebony, walnut or cherry, will be shaped, sanded and installed. At the end of the day you will have a wearable work of art that you can proudly wear for special occasions or everyday use. |
