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  OPEN, SWING-HANDLE, NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP SEWING BASKET, MADE BY FERDINANT SYLVARO (1868-1952) AND SIGNED, CA 1925
Dimensions (inches): 8" diam, 4" tall, 8" with handle in raised position.
Description:
This beautiful Nantucket basket, with great patina and in exquisite condition, was made by Ferdinand Sylvaro (1868-1952). Following is a brief history of the maker, compiled by the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum:

"A house painter by trade, Ferdinand…was a Nantucket native of Portuguese decent and married a woman named Althea Macy (not to be confused with scrimshander Aletha Macy). [He] worked from his shop that was attached to his home on 97 Orange Street [and] was among the “on land” weavers who made baskets in the 1920's. Research suggests that his neighbor, AD Williams, taught him the craft of weaving Nantucket lightship baskets. AD Williams was taught by William D. Appleton [one of the earliest and best in the trade].

"Ferdinand Sylvaro owned molds that belonged to Davis Hall, a famous basket maker of the late 1800's who was a lightship keeper of the New South Shoal. The story of Ferdinand Sylvaro is a classic example of the lineage of the craft of making lightship baskets; being passed down from lightship keeper to the next generation.

You will find that Ferdinand typically used oak or hickory for the staves, and mahogany for the bases. One of his trademarks was inscribing three narrow, equally spaced circles incised inside of the bottom of the base. His baskets are labeled with a paper label that reads “Ferdinand Sylvaro, 97 Orange Street, Nantucket, Mass.”"

All of the above is true of this particular example, which has a mahogany base and what appears to be a white oak swing-style handle with brass ears, copper riveted to the staves. The form is open-topped and wide-mouthed. The label is intact with a well-preserved signature.
   
Primary Color: brown
Earliest Date: 1920
Latest Date: 1930
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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