Explore the Beauty of Nantucket Baskets
Handcrafted elegance in every basketStaves & Cane Basketworks
Nantucket Baskets
Did you know the first basket makers on Nantucket were members of the Wampanoag Indian tribe? Tribe members crafted utilitarian ash and oak baskets long before settlers arrived in 1659. While the exact origins of Nantucket‑style baskets are unclear, examples existed before 1850. From the mid‑1800s to early 1900s, crew members on Nantucket lightships produced what became known as Lightship Baskets - some of the first baskets sold commercially. In the early to mid 20th century, Basket Maker Jose Reyes evolved and innovated basket designs by adding tops to traditional baskets to create fashionable accessories including purses and clutches. Today, Nantucket baskets remain highly sought after and are still made using traditional techniques with hardwood bases and rims, rattan or hardwood staves, cane, and a mold.
ABout the Artist
Jack Kaminski is a former manufacturing and operations executive, having worked with Gillette, Keurig Green Mountain, Willow Innovations and Gartner, Inc. Jack began making Nantucket baskets after joining his wife at a basket making class taught by well-known Nantucket master basket maker and instructor, Lynn Barry, of Cotuit, MA. Jack enjoys the process of making a basket, from materials selection through weaving and finishing. He produces baskets in his studio in Osterville, MA. Jack specializes in making contemporary, large round baskets and oval trays utilizing traditional techniques with unique wood with inlayed rims. His baskets can be found on Nantucket at the G.S Hill Gallery, Thomas Macy Gallery and Sylvia’s Antiques.
Process
Jack creates handcrafted Nantucket baskets from his home studio, Staves and Cane Basketworks, in Osterville, Massachusetts. A large 25–27" round or oval tray requires roughly 40 hours of meticulous work, from selecting materials to weaving, finishing, and decorative detailing. His baskets are often showcased as statement pieces—placed on foyer tables, used as centerpieces on dining or coffee tables, or displayed on kitchen islands and fireplace mantles. Jack frequently collaborates with clients to design one‑of‑a‑kind pieces for special occasions such as weddings or anniversaries. When a custom scrimshaw element is desired, he partners with leading artists on Nantucket and Cape Cod to incorporate responsibly sourced ivory or acrylic designs that elevate the basket’s elegance.
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Recent Project:
The Harvard Basket
The Harvard basket, is a basket made from wood found in a Harvard, Massachusetts barn, built in 1770. The wood used to build the barn was eastern white pine, which was plentiful in 1700’s Harvard countryside. The plank of wood Jack used was estimated to be over 200 years old when the tree was felled in 1770, making it a sapling in the late 1500s! The basket is a 22” oval tray with an eastern white pine base, cherry wood staves and rim and a maple wood inlay. It is decorated with brass nails and responsibly sourced ivory. The dark spots on the base are from the handmade iron nails used to attach the board to the walls of the barn. The basket is currently in a private collection in San Francisco, CA.
Interested in Learning More
The Cahoon Museum of American Art, Cotuit, MA, will feature an exhibit highlighting this important America form of art recognized throughout the region, from June 10 thru September 20, 2026. The exhibit, Stave & Cane: Nantucket Baskets will share history, lore, art, basket making tools and both antique baskets and baskets made by local Cape and Islands artists. Many of the baskets here will be featured in the exhibit. Please visit the museum this summer!
Contact Staves & Cane
Contacts
Jack Kaminski, Head Weaver & Proprietor 617-818-5967
Office Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM