Vintage Stephen Gibbs Nantucket Purse, circa 1960

Vintage Stephen Gibbs Nantucket Purse, circa 1960, an oval covered Nantucket basket having a scrimshaw carved whale tooth Sperm Whale by Charlie Sayle mounted on a cherry top plate, with cane weave on oak staves, shaped wooden swing handle  attached to turned bone ears, a turned bone peg and clasp, stamped S. Gibbs, Maker, Nantucket, Mass on the oak bottom plate.

The basket remains in excellent color and condition.

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, usiing 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.

Charles Sayle moved to Nantucket in the 1920s and established himself as one of the island’s foremost artisans. Famous for his carvings of whales and ivory, his work came to adorn many Nantucket Lightship baskets, a trend that continues over 70 years later. Charlie Senior’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: 6 ¾ in H x 8 ½ in L x 6 3/8 in W