Absolutely lovely Nantucket basket from the legendary artist, teacher, and author of the Bible for Nantucket basket weaving, Martha Lawrence (1945-2023). Very unique two-tone with slightly darker band of color towards bottom. Signed on bottom with year 1985.

Size - 6.75” diameter, 5” tall, 5” handle drop

Condition - excellent, no flaws of note. Some dust in interior.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Professionally, Martha Lawrence was best known for her definitive 1990 book ‘Lightship Baskets of Nantucket.’ She led popular classes in the precise art of constructing Nantucket Lightship Baskets.

Martha felt a special connection to the Island of Nantucket, vacationing there during childhood summers and watching her grandfather carve wooden figureheads for ships in his dockside shop. She found the island the ideal place to take up an apprenticeship with craftsmen making baskets and learned their perfection from the old masters. When asked about how she learned, Martha said,

"There were no classes then, and I learned through the generosity of the basketmakers in Nantucket."

For many, Lawrence was the authority on Nantucket basket weaving, teaching classes in their construction for over 30 years. Her baskets are in collections internationally.