Four Winds Craft Guild
Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Vases:
Robert Cosgray, Jan & Don Weir, Mary Howard
Although there have been rumors that Nantucket baskets were woven so tightly that they could hold whale oil, the likelihood of that is minimal due to the unavoidable gaps between stave and weaver and the fibrous nature of the cane used. Today’s artists have found a way to make them “water tight”. Rather than using traditional wooden molds, artists have begun to use glass as both the mold and a permanent part of the basket, allowing for a fitted interior that can hold water and help display your bountiful blooms. Artists such as Robert Cosgray, Mary Howard, and Jan & Don Weir have found a variety of glass forms to work with, enhancing the silhouette of the Nantucket basket and coining yet another use for them.