Nantucket Purse by Jose Reyes, 1966

Nantucket Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, dated 1966, a fine vintage Nantucket purse with cane weave on rattan staves, a carved swing handle fastened by copper rivets to the rim, the rosewood top plate mounted with an antique carved whale tooth mortgage button and bodkin, and a vintage carved whale tooth flying gull (likely by Charlie Sayle), and a carved whale bone peg for closure; signed on the bottom Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes with image of island, and dated 1966.

The basket remains in fantastic condition, and lightly used to give it a perfect warm honey patina. The choice of scrimshaw on the lid gives this basket a unique and distinctive look.

Jose Reyes (1902 – 1980) was born in the Philippines and moved to Nantucket immediately following World War II in 1947. He met Mitchy Ray, the last person on island still making Nantucket baskets at that time, and learned the craft. Within a few years Jose adapted the traditional Lightship basket form to a purse by adding a lid and a swing handle, launching the modern era in the Nantucket basket saga. Reyes remains highly revered and collected as a great innovator and the inventor of the Nantucket Purse.

Charles Sayle moved to Nantucket in the 1920s and established himself as one of the island’s foremost artisans. Known for his carvings of whales, scrimshaw, ship models, shadowboxes and folk art, he was approached by Jose Reyes for ideas to adorn the top of his Nantucket purses: his carved ebony and whale tooth whales, gulls and islands quickly became iconic. Charlie’s work can be seen in the Nantucket Historical Association’s Whaling Museum, in the Lightship Basket Museum, and adorning lightship baskets, shops and restaurants around the Island.

Measures: 7 in H x 9 in L