This basket is traditionally known as a Nantucket Lightship Basket. This particular specimen was made by my stepfather, Howard G. Jones, who was an industrial designer and model maker, and the inspiration behind much of what I do today. He could make anything — for Sea & Ski, he modeled the first “Girl Watcher” sunglasses, and for GM he lent his talent towards designing the Futurama exhibition for the 1939-1940 World’s Fair. He even turned wooden buttons during the Great Depression. At the age of 75 or so he decided that he wanted to start making baskets. Baskets…really? This is one stunning example of his endeavor. This “the one egger”, is part of a larger nest, something like the baskets featured in this link. He made every element himself…from ripping the cane, to tooling the little hinges to turning the wood bottom. Hats off to you Mr. Jones.

Amazing color studies created by my stepfather Howard G. Jones, and his first wife Eleanor. I believe they were both in art school at the time. In 1926! The first in a series of posts on analog designs and quirky objects discovered in my mother’s home.