Nantucket Lightship Baskets - Nantucket Historical Association
Source: http://www.nantucketlightshipbasketmuseum.org
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:32
Nantucket Lightship Baskets - Nantucket Historical Association
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There are four distinctive elements that define a Nantucket lightship basket. The basket is woven on a mold; the staves are made of rattan; the weavers are of cane; and the basket has a solid wood base. Baskets with these characteristics developed on Nantucket during the course of the nineteenth century. When well made, they were robust and practical as storage and carrying baskets and were in wide use in the island’s stores, workshops, and homes. As the island transitioned from a whaling economy to a tourist economy in the 1860s and after, the island’s work baskets became popular keepsakes of an island visit.
Learn More
Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum
The Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum (NLBM) was founded in 1997 with the purpose of preserving Nantucket’s rich history of lightship-basket making through public education and creating a permanent home for the display of lightship baskets, both historic and contemporary. In 2021, the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum affiliated with the Nantucket Historical Association, acknowledging that education and scholarship are key tenets of both institutions. As a result of this affiliation, basket making has been integrated into the NHA’s year-round offerings of craft classes for children, youth and adults; and it has been manifested in NHA’s scholarship, publications, oral histories and in-person and virtual programming.
Learn More
The Collection
Search the NHA collection for its extensive holdings of historic and contemporary Nantucket lightship baskets and basket-related artifacts, including the recently-incorporated collection of the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum.
More
Read more from The Collection
Biographies
Explore historic biographies and learn more about the individuals who raised this craft to an art form unique to Nantucket Island.
More
Read more from Biographies
Articles
Learn more about the history and complexity of Nantucket lightship basket making.
More
Read more from Articles
Exhibitions
Check in on the latest exhibitions and displays of Nantucket lightship baskets at the Whaling Museum and Hadwen House.
More
Read more from Exhibitions
Historic Nantucket
Follow the NHA's
Historic Nantucket
publication featuring articles on Nantucket lightship baskets and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum.
More
Read more from
Historic Nantucket
Videos
View recordings featuring contemporary basket makers, craftspeople, and aficionados on Nantucket lightship basket making and its history.
More
Read more from Videos
Workshops
Join a NHA Decorative Arts workshop and learn the art of weaving Nantucket lightship baskets or hone your weaving skills. New classes are added regularly so check back often!
More
Read more from Workshops
Shop
Explore the NHA Museum Shop for lightship basket-inspired products.
More
Read more from Shop
The NHA preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse stories of Nantucket and its people with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research.
We use cookies to deliver our online services. Details and instructions on how to disable those cookies are set out in our
Privacy Policy
. By clicking I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies unless you have disabled them.
Skip to content
There are four distinctive elements that define a Nantucket lightship basket. The basket is woven on a mold; the staves are made of rattan; the weavers are of cane; and the basket has a solid wood base. Baskets with these characteristics developed on Nantucket during the course of the nineteenth century. When well made, they were robust and practical as storage and carrying baskets and were in wide use in the island’s stores, workshops, and homes. As the island transitioned from a whaling economy to a tourist economy in the 1860s and after, the island’s work baskets became popular keepsakes of an island visit.
Learn More
Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum
The Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum (NLBM) was founded in 1997 with the purpose of preserving Nantucket’s rich history of lightship-basket making through public education and creating a permanent home for the display of lightship baskets, both historic and contemporary. In 2021, the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum affiliated with the Nantucket Historical Association, acknowledging that education and scholarship are key tenets of both institutions. As a result of this affiliation, basket making has been integrated into the NHA’s year-round offerings of craft classes for children, youth and adults; and it has been manifested in NHA’s scholarship, publications, oral histories and in-person and virtual programming.
Learn More
The Collection
Search the NHA collection for its extensive holdings of historic and contemporary Nantucket lightship baskets and basket-related artifacts, including the recently-incorporated collection of the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum.
More
Read more from The Collection
Biographies
Explore historic biographies and learn more about the individuals who raised this craft to an art form unique to Nantucket Island.
More
Read more from Biographies
Articles
Learn more about the history and complexity of Nantucket lightship basket making.
More
Read more from Articles
Exhibitions
Check in on the latest exhibitions and displays of Nantucket lightship baskets at the Whaling Museum and Hadwen House.
More
Read more from Exhibitions
Historic Nantucket
Follow the NHA's
Historic Nantucket
publication featuring articles on Nantucket lightship baskets and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum.
More
Read more from
Historic Nantucket
Videos
View recordings featuring contemporary basket makers, craftspeople, and aficionados on Nantucket lightship basket making and its history.
More
Read more from Videos
Workshops
Join a NHA Decorative Arts workshop and learn the art of weaving Nantucket lightship baskets or hone your weaving skills. New classes are added regularly so check back often!
More
Read more from Workshops
Shop
Explore the NHA Museum Shop for lightship basket-inspired products.
More
Read more from Shop
The NHA preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse stories of Nantucket and its people with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research.
We use cookies to deliver our online services. Details and instructions on how to disable those cookies are set out in our
Privacy Policy
. By clicking I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies unless you have disabled them.