Spectacular Antique Nantucket Lightship Basket -11\" Open Round with Swing Handle For Sale

Spectacular Antique Nantucket Lightship Basket -11\" Open Round with Swing HandlePossibly made by A.D. Williams (Arthur D. Williams)
Item Specifics

• Object Type:Nantucket Basket
• Style:Nantucket Lightship
• Maker:Possibly A.D. Williams (Arthur D. Williams)
• Origin:Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
• Time Period Manufactured:Pre-1930 (Late 19th or Early 20th Century)
• Primary Material:Wood (Poplar base, cane weavers)
• Shape:Round (Open)
• Features:Swing handle, lathe-turned solid wooden bottom plate
• Width:11 inches
• Height to Rim:7.5 inches
• Total Height (Handle Upright):13.25 inches

Up for your consideration is a beautiful, authenticAntique Nantucket Lightship Basketboasting a classic open round design and functional wooden swing handle. Measuring a generous 11 inches wide, this substantial piece highlights the highly skilled folk art craftsmanship of late 19th or early 20th-century coastal weavers.Material & Base Construction:
A standout feature of this basket is its lathe-turned solid wooden bottom plate, which closely matches the visual characteristics ofaged Poplar wood. Poplar features a fine, closed grain and was famously favored by legendary 20th-century Nantucket artisans, such asA.D. Williamsof Orange Street. The center of the plate clearly retains its original lathe pivot mark, verifying its traditional hand-turned production.Technical Details:
The basket features traditional vertical wooden structural staves and ultra-tight horizontal cane weavers. The sturdy wooden swing handle is anchored via carved wooden ears sliding into the weave matrix, secured with classic domed heavy metal pivot pins.Condition Report:

• Patina:Features a stunning, deep honey-golden oxidized coloration accumulated naturally over many decades of age. The poplar base shows a beautiful, authentic matte finish with honest shelf wear and multi-directional surface scuffs (no modern synthetic clear coats).
• Weave Imperfections:Please note that there is a localized area of broken/missing horizontal cane weavers on one side, leaving small sections of the vertical staves exposed (clearly shown in detail gallery photos).
• Base:Sound structure with no structural splits or cracks to the wood bottom. No clearly legible maker signature is discernable on the underside due to natural surface wear and age.

Measurements:

• Width:11”
• Height to Rim:7.5”
• Total Height (Handle Upright):13.25”

Arthur D. Williams(1867–1927)was one of the most prominent and highly respected \"on-land\" Nantucket Lightship basket weavers operating at the turn of the 20th century.Profile of a Master Artisan

• The Craft Lineage: Williams represents a crucial historical link in the generational passing of this maritime art form. He learned the intricate craft of weaving fromWilliam D. Appleton, a legendary weaver who had served directly on the New South Shoal Lightship. Williams later passed his specialized knowledge down to another famous island weaver,Ferdinand Sylvaro.
• The Orange Street Shop: Unlike the earliest makers who crafted baskets while stationed out at sea to pass the time on lightships, Williams operated a dedicated, highly visited basket workshop directly from his home at120 Orange Streeton Nantucket island.
• Specialties and Trademarks: While he made standard round utilitarian baskets, Williams was highly celebrated for his mastery ofoval open baskets(which are significantly harder to weave uniformly than round ones) as well as rare covered baskets. He was particularly known among collectors for his expertly carved, beautifully formed wooden swing handles.
• Historical Marking: Baskets made by Williams often originally featured handwritten or typed paper labels affixed to the wooden base plate reading:\"Lightship Baskets Made by A.D. Williams,120 Orange St.Nantucket Mass.\". Over a century later, most of these fragile paper labels have either worn completely away or left behind only faint rectangular adhesive silhouettes.

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