By Marina Case
There isn’t one singular style associated with Cape Cod. You’ll find homes here that are laid back and beachy, and others that are refined without being stuffy – the same as you would anywhere. What ties them together isn’t a look, but rather a sense of place. After being immersed in Cape and Islands living for years, I’ve come to recognize the same elements showing up again and again – in the materials, the palette, the furniture, the details – regardless of which direction a client wants to go.
Nantucket baskets have been part of my story since I vacationed on the island with my family in the 1990s. I bought my first basket at Murray’s Toggery Shop on Nantucket back then, and continued to expand my collection over the years. I love how each basket has its own history, and how one by one they’ve become part of mine. This summer, these iconic baskets have surged in popularity – trending on social media and becoming the focus of news articles, including a great read in The New York Times. I recently shared an Instagram post highlighting some of my basket collection, and given the response and the current spotlight on these coveted pieces, I thought I’d share more information on the background of Nantucket baskets, what’s behind today’s trend, and how I incorporate these timeless pieces into my interior design.
The History of Nantucket Baskets
The Nantucket basket is steeped in island history, with its origins dating back to the island’s native Wampanoag tribe, who crafted woven baskets by pounding wood into splints. They shared this practice with the European settlers who arrived in the 1600s. Around that same time period, the settlers began whaling – a practice synonymous with Nantucket and honored by the island’s Whaling Museum.
By the mid 1800s, the local whale population started to diminish, forcing the whalers to sail further – even as far as the Pacific, where they discovered rattan. They brought it back with them to the island, where it was introduced into the basket-weaving process.
The Lightship Basket Backstory
Starting in 1856, lightship vessels began being sent to monitor storms off Nantucket’s shores. The sailors crafted baskets to pass the time at sea, which is how the distinctive baskets made on the island became known as lightship baskets. These baskets have four distinctive elements:
• The basket is woven on a mold
• The staves are made of rattan
• The weavers are made of cane
• The basket has a solid wood base
Though no longer made on boats, the baskets are still referred to as lightship baskets, with the craft passing from one weaver to another throughout the years.
The Creation of the Friendship Basket
A century later, a twist on the traditional Nantucket basket emerged. After World War II, unable to find work as a teacher, Jose Formoso Reyes moved to Nantucket and took up basket weaving. He experimented with shapes as well as added a hinged lid and handle, transforming the lightship basket into a purse. Later, he partnered with a number of carvers including Nancy Chase, Aletha Macy, and Charlie Sayle to add decorative carvings to the baskets, such as whales, seagulls, and shells – as well as part of the toggle closure. Other popular purse makers, like Paul Whitten, followed in Reyes’ footsteps. If you’d like to dive deeper into the history, I encourage you to check out an Instagram post by the Nantucket Historical Association which provides some great background on how the friendship baskets evolved with beautiful vintage examples that are part of the association’s collection.
The Basket’s Recent Surge in Popularity
To islanders and summer residents, Nantucket baskets have long been part of daily life, from storage and organization staples to decor pieces. On and off island, the friendship baskets have become iconic over the decades, treated as family heirlooms and often compared to other high-end purses like the Birkin.
I and others are drawn to these baskets because of their craftsmanship and history; the polar opposite of fast fashion and mass production. The baskets can’t be easily obtained – there are only a handful of basket makers on the island – and each basket has a legacy that can be passed down through the generations. This is what makes them so special.
Another draw of friendship baskets is their personalization. People commission the weavers to add specific carvings, engravings, and nameplates that denote how the basket was passed from family member to family member.
While I fell in love with the baskets 30 years ago, curating quite the collection, it seems the summer of 2026 is the Year of the Nantucket Friendship Basket. Tourism soared this season amid a social media obsession with the island – and so did the desire for these baskets. John Sylvia, the owner of Four Winds noted in The New York Times article that sales of new friendship baskets in his store are up by over 40%. Google Trends data indicates that searches for Nantucket lightship baskets and Nantucket friendship baskets have skyrocketed this summer, and social media about them is trending high. New and vintage versions are both extremely popular – with even reproductions gaining value. I treasure my vintage friendship baskets, using them throughout the summer months, and people always comment on them when I do.
I Consider Nantucket Baskets to Be Timeless Interior Design Pieces
While the friendship baskets are especially sought after as handbags, I like to also incorporate them along with the lightship baskets into my personal decor. As an interior designer who specializes in History with Style, you’ll find a variety of Nantucket baskets of all types and sizes throughout my home. They are an easy and practical way to evoke a timeless island feeling – plus they add incredible layers of texture and warmth to a space.
Here are ways I use Nantucket baskets:
• Overall organization
• Plant holders
• Wine cooler (with an insert)
• Ice bucket
• Napkin holder
• Bread basket
• Pin cushions for sewing
• Pencil cup
• Beach towel holder
• Stationery organization
• Jewelry holder
Ready to Get Started Transforming Your Space?
There are so many ways in addition to pattern to breathe fresh life into a home. View my Portfolio to see more examples of my interior design projects and follow us on Instagram for more interior design inspiration.
