ask yourself these questions:
1. How much do you want to spend?
2. Who made the basket?
3. Where was it made?
4. What materials were used?
5.Concerned about ivory use?
6. What type of workmanship used?
7. Was it woven using traditional methods?
8. What about a warranty?
9. How long will it last?
1. How much do you want to spend?
When considering buying a basket you need to be aware that it is a very "you get what you pay for" type of situation.
Reproduction baskets
Authentic reproduction, is this opposed to a fake reproduction?? Importers have been, for quite a few decades, selling Nantucket handbags that have been produced somewhere in the China. As you can see from the label above they can easily be 30 years old or older. These baskets vary in quality from extremely poor to fair and have little if any collectable value in my opinion. If the basket says "Farnum" or "Barlow" on the bottom or has no signature and looks like the photos in this section you can be sure it is an reproduction basket. Pay particular attention to the front pin and catch that the pin fits in. The catch pictured above is NEVER on American made Nantucket baskets and in fact is a way to absolutely identify the purse as a reproduction . Also pay attention to the figure eight type leather hinge that holds the pin in place, again another feature only found on reproduction baskets. Some times the hinges in the back are not even wrapped in cane but just plain leather. Additionally the handles are usually reed not wood and are bolted on. (as shown above)
These baskets usually sell for around $100 - $200.00. I see them frequently on Ebay and other spots on the web where folks are trying to sell them for $350.00 - $450.00 (or even $1250 as you see below). Often the hinges in these baskets are plastic wrapped in cane ( instead of leather ) and break quickly. I've had quite a few disappointed customers discover that having the hinges professionally replaced can cost as much as they paid for the basket! As an investment these baskets are really worth VERY LITTLE. Notice the term "ivoryite " term used above to describe the plaque on top. Lets be real and call it what it really is ...PLASTIC. You will hear people on the web explain how their plastic plates are better than "ivorite" or other peoples plastic and how it is the closest thing to ivory there is which of course ridiculous. There is no such thing as plastic that replicates real ivory in any way including color, texture, and feel. These plastic plates are produced by the thousands in China and elsewhere and are NOT DONE BY HAND but are cast from molds. Again they have very little value as a collectable and will not increase in value like a domestic basket would.
The ads below, from a high end museum catalogue and Ebay are a perfect examples of what I would consider a big waste of money in terms of quality, durability, collectable, and resale value. Notice the exact type of catch for the pin in the front as the baskets up above and the authentic reproduction line as well. That is the dead giveaway that the baskets were produced in China. I have never seen that type of pin holding arrangement on ANY American made baskets. The Ebay ad is incredible, I hope no one is gullible enough to pay that amount for a basket made in China and decorated with bone and plastic. In fact for the price offered below you can buy a basic basket the same size MADE BY ME!!! Just because someone scribbles a name on the bottom of a basket does not make it valuable. If you have a basket that you have questions about please contact me, send photos if you can, and I will try to help you.
(I DO NOT SELL THIS OR ANY FOREIGN MADE BASKETS)
Vintage baskets
Antique baskets from the lightship
era are very valuable and should only be purchased through a reputable dealer.
Expect to pay anywhere from $500.00 and up. A nest of baskets from the
Lightship era sold for 130,000.00 at auction and another recently sold for $55,000.
A good deal on one of these is a great investment.
Jose` Reyes, the man credited with popularizing this form sold his handbags for anywhere from $30.00 at the beginning of his career in the early 1950's. Until by the late 1970's he was getting between $350.00 - $400.00 for a handbag with ivory fittings. Of course the carving on top was extra. Jose` passed away in the early 1980's and his handbags now sell for between $3000.00 -$ 10,000.00. And are highly sought after in the antique field. I had a customer bring me a Jose` Reyes handbag her friend had bought at a yard sale for $5.00, value at auction around $8,000! . (keep your eyes open!) Weavers from the 1960's on capitalized on the popularization of the handbag form and a number established themselves well enough that their baskets do well at auction, though not not as much as a Reyes.
American made
For a well made Nantucket Lightship Baskets signed and dated by the weaver expect to pay from 50.00 - 200.00 per inch of diameter for standard sizes this price will vary quite a bit according to materials. Baskets with wooden staves and rims generally cost a bit more as they require much more time and cost. In the last twenty years or so people all over the country have picked up on the craft and there are now Nantucket Basket makers everywhere! As with any major purchase if you are interested in making an investment please take your time and shop around. Baskets with crooked staves, uneven weaving, sloppy construction methods abound!!
2. Who made the basket?
Several importers have been, for quite a few years, selling Nantucket handbags that have been woven somewhere in the Orient. These baskets vary in quality from extremely poor to fair. If you are looking to save money don't expect to get a basket with a signature on it. (This is very typical of imported baskets.)
Signed baskets are always more desirable from both an ownership and an investment perspective. Any basket maker "worth their salt" is proud of their work and signs and dates each basket just as a painter signs each canvas. In fact some weavers consider each basket, in a sense, like one of their children and keep track of where each one is! For investment value a signature is a must .
An example of how important this can be: Any baskets made by Jose` Reyes are worth anywhere from 1000.00$ - 10,000.00$ but you can subtract at least 20% - 40% from that figure if his name is worn off. ( Even if it is a basket clearly woven by him )
Purchasing a basket from someone
who is well established in the business and is well versed in all aspects of basket
construction and history is the best way to insure your basket will be well made and
continue to hold its value( plus some) as time passes.
3. Where was it made?
Several importers have been, for quite a few years, selling Nantucket handbags that have been woven somewhere in the Orient. These baskets vary in quality from extremely poor to fair. (some have American made handles and fittings to make them a little nicer) These baskets are for those who are looking for the least expensive alternative, and don't care if it will ever appreciate in value.
Of course, we here on Nantucket would like to think that only baskets made here are the "real thing" but the fact of the matter is that people all over the United States have become devoted to the craft and make very nice baskets indeed. It is the case however that baskets produced here have a higher resale value and in most likelihood will increase in value as time passes.
4. What materials were used?
From the time that history dubbed the baskets made on Nantucket, Nantucket Lightship Baskets the traditional materials for construction consisted of one thing namely rattan. Two materials cane and reed are produced from the plant. The outer bark (cane) was and is used as both the weaver and the stave. The pithy inner reed also was and is used for staves but also for the rims. Wood , which of course, is what Native-Americans used for their splint basketry was also used for staves and rims as well as of course for the base and rim. This is part of baskets that will vary widely from weaver to weaver. Some use only all cane or wood or reed, some weavers ( like me) offer the customer a choice of materials to choose from. This will obviously reflect on the price i.e. wooden staves and rims generally cost more. Except for the use of cane, no one specific use of materials is entirely traditional as basket makers used whatever was at hand. It was a very Yankee ingenuity do- it -yourself type of craft and I have seen historic baskets made from many combinations of the materials listed above. As stated no one material combination is better than another although it has been my experience that an all cane basket in time becomes more fragile and brittle due to the inability of the cane to soak up much finish.
5. Concerned about ivory use?
Aside from elephant ivory many of the items you see in ivory can be made with of mastodon or woolly mammoth ivory. Of course it is a bit more rare ( and more expensive) but has some beautiful color.
Here are some quotes from the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) web page:
In 1989 CITES issued a world wide ban on the trade of elephant ivory.
Worldwide trade in ivory has been effectively banned since January 1990.
Hong Kong was the primary consumer of raw ivory from 1979 to 1987 and probably remains important today.
Japan was the second largest consumer in this time (whose market share dropped markedly during the period), followed by Taiwan (whose share rose). (The U.S. was not even in listed as a consumer.)
In 1993, 3 countries were permitted
by CITES to begin limited trade with Japan as they had carefully managed the
elephants in their country, Populations of elephants in Botswana, Namibia,
and Zimbabwe are included in Appendix II to allow for limited trade in specific
products only.
There is no polymer (plastic) or bone that can duplicate the graining and depth of character of real ivory. I use ivory, whalebone, and baleen in my business and I have never seen any type of plastic or cow bone that can replicate the beauty of real ivory.
6. What type of workmanship used?
Are the staves straight (plumb)? 
Are the staves close or far apart? Is the weaving even? Can you find the spots where a new weaver has
been joined in? Have the rims
been sanded well? Is the
basket "hairy"? Is the
basket sealed properly with finish?
What does the finish on the wooden parts look like? Are the fittings plastic, bone, or ivory? All these and others are factors to be
considered. And will be reflected in the price and ultimate value
7. Was it woven using traditional methods?
All Nantucket Lightship Baskets are woven with an odd number of staves( with the exception of a few specialty styles), if you really care count!
8. What about a warranty?
Not every shop warranties their work. This is important when considering buying a handbag because eventually you will need to have the hinges replaced and if not covered it can be an unexpected expense.
9. How long will it last?
Properly cared for a well made Lightship Basket will last many generations as is testified to by the existence of many still serviceable baskets from the 1850's.
