Vintage Nantucket Purse by Stephen Gibbs, circa 1960

Vintage Nantucket Purse by Stephen Gibbs, circa 1960, a covered oval Nantucket basket, with cane weave on oak staves, shaped wooden swing handle, and having a carved whale tooth humpback whale mounted on rosewood top, with carved whale tooth handle knobs, clasp and peg, stamped S. Gibbs, Maker, Nantucket, Mass on the oak bottom plate.

This is a beautiful example of Gibbs’ superior craftsmanship and remains in excellent color and condition. It is a fairly diminutive sized basket but not as small as a cocktail purse.

Stephen Gibbs (1896 -1974) and his wife Loretta operated a basket shop for 20 years on Madaket Road where they made and sold lightship baskets. Prior to his basket work Stephen Gibbs was an accomplished woodworker and builder on Nantucket, giving him the knowledge to make all of the components for his baskets. After suffering a heart attack, he turned to the less physical work of making Nantucket baskets.

Although it is said that Gibbs was mainly self-taught, he was introduced to basketry as a small boy when his mother upon occasion had him bring supper to Mitchy Ray, the well known third generation Nantucket basket maker. He was one of the first generation of baskets makers in the post-lightship “purse period, following closely behind Jose Reyes, and wove baskets for 20 years from 1954 until he passed away in 1974. His baskets are among the finest woven and highest quality of that time period, using oak for his staves and taking great care and precision in his craftsmanship. He frequently placed a long ivory clasp to hold the peg on his purses (now somewhat of a trademark his baskets). He is regarded as the finest of the early makers and one of the best makers ever.

Measures: 7 in H x 7-3/8 in L x 5-3/4 in W