Nantucket Basket by Harry Hilbert, 1995, with Stenciled Lid

Nantucket Basket by Harry Hilbert, 1995, a Nantucket purse having a solid mahogany hinged top with colonial or federal style stenciled decoration on ebonized reserve, fine brass hinges minutely inlaid, and tropic wood cross-band inlay around perimeter; double carved wooden swing handles attached with bone mounts; nickel clasp; two tone woven cane wrap on oak staves; signed and dated by wood-burnt stamp on the mahogany bottom. This is a beautiful basket made with astounding craftsmanship by one of the finest artists in the field.

The basket remains in superb, barely used condition. I found one scuff above the stenciled reserve.

Harry Hilbert (1917 – 2010) was an acclaimed Nantucket Basket maker known for his fine inlay and superb craftsmanship. He originally made his baskets as personal gifts, but later sold them through Wayne Pratt Antiques on Nantucket. His work was featured at the Smithsonian Institute, Wadsworth Athenaeum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Yale, RISD, National Museum of American History, and the Nantucket Historical Society. His baskets only rarely appear on the market.

Measures: 6-1/4 in H x 10-3/8 in L x 8 in W