Kahn Fine Antiques, LLC - Chatham Chamber of Commerce

Basketry
CHATHAM
ALSO AVAILABLE AT
Kahn Fine Antiques, LLC
582 Main Street
Chatham, MA 02633
t 508.945.6450 f 508.945.6452
www.KahnFineAntiques.com
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kathy is recognized as one of few authentic Nantucket
Lightship basket makers on Cape Cod, the Islands and
is internationally recognized for her one-of-a-kind
Mattapoisett Baskets. Kathy’s work was described by a
Mystic Seaport Curator as “the most unique form of
Maritime Art he had ever seen”. She was the first fiber
artist to be asked and to participate in the prestigious
Mystic International Show in Mystic Connecticut.
While she was a participant in the Festival of Arts,
Chatham, MA, Kathy won first place for the six years
she was in the show. Kathy’s baskets have been featured
in Early American Life Magazine. She has been a basket
maker for over twenty-five years. Kathy is a member of
the American Craft Council. Both Kathy and Ken are
members of the Society of Cape Cod Craftsmen,
Chatham Chamber of Commerce, the Chatham
Merchants’ Association and several Basket Associations.
HANDCRAFTED AUTHENTIC
NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP,
MATTAPOISETT
AND WHALER’S BASKETS
By Award Winning Artisans
Kathy and Ken Campbell
Ken has been making baskets for over ten years and is the
originator of the Whaler’s Basket. He has shown and
sold his work at Four Winds Gallery on Nantucket,
shows, Kahn Fine Antiques LLC and our studio.
By Appointment at Our Studio:
154 Old Harbor Road
Chatham, MA
508.945.4657
e-mail: chathambasketry@comcast.net
WE ACCEPT MASTERCARD, VISA, DISCOVER,
AMERICAN EXPRESS, CASH AND CHECKS
NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP BASKETS
Open Nantucket Lightship Baskets were made during the
mid-1800’s up through the 1900’s. Jose Farmoso Reyes, a
Filipino, came to Nantucket in 1945 after World War II
and unable to get work as a teacher, turned to basket
making for a living, with the help of Nantucket basket
maker Mitchy Ray.
Soon he thought of the idea of a woven cover for the
baskets, transforming them into handbags. Reyes called
them “Friendship Baskets”. His wife, suggested putting a
whale carving on the cover. This was the
beginning of the Nantucket Lightship
Baskets we
know today.
NANTUCKET BASKET PRICES
OPEN NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP BASKETS
3”............$175.00
4”............$250.00
5 .............$325.00
6”............$425.00
7”............$525.00
8”............$650.00
9”............$775.00
10”..........$875.00
12”.......$1,050.00
6”x4” Opera Bag with leather insert........$525.00
10” Tote Bag.............................................$975.00
12” Tote Bag..........................................$1,200.00
TRADITIONAL NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP PURSES
Purses are available from the “Whale’s Tooth Size” of
4” up to a 12” purse. Due to the number of sizes and
options it is not possible to print a complete price list.
Prices start at $600.00 for a 4” handbag with plain
top to approx. $3,500.00 for a 12” handbag with plain
top. Purse &Tote prices include an ivory quarter
board with owner’s name on inside of cover, a solid
ivory clasp, peg and knobs on Purses. There is an additional cost for solid ivory tops, ivory plaques, carvings of ivory, whalebone or fossil walrus, scrimshaw,
etc. Prices are subject to change without notice.
MATTAPOISETT BASKETS
WHALER’S BASKETS
Mattapoisett Baskets got their name from Gladys Sherman
Ellis, the originator, who still resides in Mattapoisett,
therefore the name. My mother, a native of Mattapoisett
grew up with Mrs. Ellis. I moved to the little village in my
teens. As a young adult I was fortunate to have Mrs. Ellis
teach the craft to me. After completing my first basket
Mrs. Ellis suggested I start a business as she felt I was
exceptional at making them. So I did! To this day I have
much love and respect for this talented and gifted lady
who is my mentor and a dear friend.
Whaling voyages during the 1800’s were very long,
sometimes four years in length.
The basket is completely hand sewn with raffia, a fine
sewing needle and pine needles, using a technique called
Tenerife (a German technique), coil bound basketry (a
Seminole Indian technique), scrimshaw and carving from
the Whaling era. Each basket is original in design and
requires many months to complete depending on the
complexity and size.
MATTAPOISETT BASKET PRICES
These one-of-a-kind baskets range in price from
$9,000.00 to $25,000.00.
There were days, weeks and months of boredom between
the location and capture of whales. To overcome this,
whalers made various handcrafted items, scrimshawed
whale’s teeth, swifts, inlayed boxes, baskets and other
things. These baskets are crafted in the whaler’s tradition
and style, using only materials found on board a whaling
ship such as whalebone, whale ivory (teeth), baleen and
exotic woods.
WHALER’S BASKET PRICES
Depending on size, design and amount of whalebone,
baleen, whale ivory and exotic woods. Prices range from
$1,000.00 to $7,500.00.