19th Century Nantucket Lightship “Peck” or Half Bushel Basket, attributed to Captain Henry F. Coffin
19th Century Nantucket Lightship “Peck” or Half Bushel Basket, attributed to Captain Henry F. Coffin
$3,600.00
19th Century Nantucket Lightship “Peck” or Half Bushel Basket, attributed to Captain Henry F. Coffin (Nantucket: 1813 – 1889), a very large peck measure basket with fat rattan weave on wooden splint staves, carved swing handle mounted on high rounded ears extending as staves all the way down to the pine bottom plate.
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19th Century Nantucket Lightship “Peck” or Half Bushel Basket, attributed to Captain Henry F. Coffin (Nantucket: 1813 – 1889), a very large peck measure basket with fat rattan weave on wooden splint staves, carved swing handle mounted on high rounded ears extending as staves all the way down to the pine bottom plate.
The basket has a wonderful dark and deep patina, and remains in very good condition, especially surprising considering its size and the weight of the loads it would have carried. I have spotted only three small breaks to the weave. The well worn bottom plate has a sliver lost to one edge as seen in a photograph. The basket remains exceptionally strong and stable.
This basket has descended within the family of Nantucket whaling Capt. Henry F. Coffin, whose home is across from the famed Jared Coffin House. The basket was believed to have been made by Henry. While he did not serve on board the lightships after his retirement from whaling, he likely learned the craft from a neighbor and made this on shore (as did many other Nantucketers).
Measures: 10 in H x 13-3/4 in Diameter
