Vintage Jose Reyes Nantucket Purse with Rosewood Top, circa 1960s

Vintage Jose Reyes Nantucket Purse with Rosewood Top, circa 1960s, an oval cane woven covered basket with fine rosewood top plate, shaped swing handle, carved bone peg and handle attachments. The basket is signed on the bottom with engraved outline of the island and inscribed “Made In Nantucket, Jose Formoso Reyes” with an outline of the island.

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.

The basket is in excellent condition with a warmly darkened patina.

Measures: 7 in H x 9 in W