Woven Legacies: Nantucket Baskets at Rafael Osona’s Late Summer Auction

Of all the objects tied to Nantucket’s story, none is more instantly recognizable, or more deeply tied to the island’s identity, than the handwoven Nantucket basket. With their sturdy wooden bases, smooth cane weaving, and graceful swing handles, these baskets carry with them more than function. They embody the island: its maritime history, seafaring skills, and craft traditions.
On August 23, 2025, Rafael Osona’s Late Summer Auction will present an exceptional group of Nantucket baskets, each telling a tale of the makers who wove them and the tradition that shaped them.

From Lightships to Fashion Items
The story begins not in a workshop, but on the water. In the mid-1800s, sailors stationed on lightships, floating lighthouses anchored off Nantucket’s treacherous shoals, wove baskets during their long watches. By using solid wooden bases that were carefully shaped to support the weave, they wove rattan cane over wooden molds to create durable and beautiful objects. These creations quickly distinguished themselves from other baskets of the time.
When basket-making moved ashore in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the craft became something new. Handles were added as well as lids. And soon, the baskets were no longer just tools of utility, but objects of artistry, fashion, and tradition.

Makers Who Shaped the Tradition
José Formoso Reyes

Image Source: Nantucket Historical Association

The name most often associated with Nantucket baskets is José Formoso Reyes, a Filipino immigrant who, in the late 1940s, introduced what would become the island’s signature design: the Friendship Basket purse. With its lid, swing handle, and occasional carved adornments (such as whales or shells), Reyes’ basket was both functional and beautiful, an instant icon.

Auction Highlight:
Jose Formoso Reyes Nantucket Friendship Basket, circa 1960s (Lot 157)
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500

Jean M. Valerio
Later generations of weavers, like Jean Valerio, honored the craft with finely balanced forms. Valerio’s open baskets, woven with precision, reflect the elegance and restraint that define the tradition.

Image Source: Nantucket Historical Association

Auction Highlight: 
Jean M. Valerio Woven Swing Handle Round Open Nantucket Basket, circa 1998 (Lot 440)
Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Paul F. Whitten & Harry Hilbert

Image Source: Nantucket Historical Association. Image of Paul F. Whitten

By the 1970s, basket-making had entered a period of revival, thanks in part to makers like Paul Whitten and Harry Hilbert. Whitten, who was also a historian of the craft, preserved the knowledge of earlier makers while refining his own purses. Hilbert, working in the same era, contributed baskets of quiet beauty that carried forward the island tradition for a new wave of collectors.

Auction Highlights:
Vintage 1976 Paul Whitten Nantucket Basket Purse (Lot 160A)
Estimate: $700 - $900

Harry Hilbert Round Open Wood Trimmed Nantucket Basket Bowl (Lot 352)
Estimate: $700 - $900

Sherwin Boyer & Nancy Chase
The story of Nantucket baskets would be incomplete without Sherwin Boyer, who began weaving purses in the late 1940s and quickly became one of the most respected craftsmen of his time. His baskets, contemporary with Reyes, are known for their balance and exceptional weave.
And then there is Nancy Chase, one of the few women weaving during the mid-20th century. Her playful carved adornments, especially the tiny whales that sometimes crown her purses, gave her baskets a charm and individuality still beloved today.

Image Source: Nantucket Historical Association. Image of Nancy Chase

Auction Highlight: 
Sherwin Boyer (1907-1964) Nantucket Friendship Basket, circa 1960s, with Nancy Chase carved whale on lid (Lot 158)
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

The Story Continues
From sailors on lightships to Reyes’ Friendship Baskets, from Boyer’s early purses to the works of Hilbert, Whitten, and Valerio, the Nantucket basket is more than an object, it’s a living tradition. Each basket carries a piece of island history, woven into its cane and carved into its adornments. Don't miss the Rafael Osona Late Summer Auction on August 23, 2025. 

See the full catalog for the auction and register on Bidsquare.com