Vintage Nantucket Purse by Bill and Judy Sayle, Nantucket Island, 1977

Vintage Nantucket Purse by Bill and Judy Sayle, Nantucket Island, 1977, an oval covered Nantucket Basket with cane weave on rattan staves, mahogany top and bottom plates, carved swing handle attached with carved whale tooth knobs, lid fastened with carved whale tooth peg, and the lid mounted with a scrimshaw plaque with engraved whaling scene; signed “W & J Sayle, 1977” on the bottom. The scrimshaw is not signed, but seems likely to be the work of either Bill’s father Charlie Sayle, or possibly that of Robert Spring.

The basket remains in fine condition.

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. His son Bill became one of the most prominent basket makers on-island, working from the 1970s into the 2020s.

The scrimshaw on this basket is in full compliance with federal law as specified in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972), Endangered Species Act (1973), and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director’s Order No. 210 (as amended 2014).

Measures: 7 in H x 8-3/4 in L x 6-3/4 in W