Vintage Basketville NWT Oval Nantucket Lightship Style Basket

Lovely vintage oval gathering basket - Nantucket Lightship Style. From Basketville, with tag remnant on bottom. In the traditional Nantucket Lightship Style, this basket is fashioned of wood and rattan. Basketville was touted as the oldest basket company in America. They manufactured baskets stateside until 1996, according to research, and then moved production to China until around 2007. I'm unable to establish an exact manufacturing date for this piece. However, if it was post 1996, it was made to exacting standards. Traditional Nantucket baskets made on the island have several characteristics that are present in this basket. There are always an odd # of staves in traditional baskets; the rim cap is lashed and nailed; finally, the basket is made on a mold and contains a wooden disc base. This basket has an oval disc base - observing the wood grain, it appears to be Ash, and dual handles. The rim cap is lashed and nailed (although difficult to see at a distance) with brass toned brads and lastly, there are 97 staves in this piece - I counted them all. The dimensions are approx: 11.5" in length 7" wide 3.5" high.