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| Signature inside of Basket |
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Beautiful handmade Nantucket lightship hand basket / lidded purse featuring a wonderful scrimshaw of two prominently carved seagulls on the top. Distinctly signed on the interior’s bottom: “G.L. Brown • Cross Rip Jr. • Washington Ave. • Madaket”. The lid is kept shut by a front pin closure. Excellent condition. Measures approximately 10” wide by 6” high (excluding the handle).
Gerald “Jerry” L. Brown, who created baskets under the name “Cross Rip Jr.”, learned the basket making craft from his father, Walter R. Brown - who signed his creations “Cross Rip” - after a Lightship of the same name that his family passed by regularly on the way to/from Nantucket. “Jerry” began creating Nantucket baskets as a hobby and then began selling them professionally starting in 1974 after a layoff from General Electric. Brown's baskets are notable for their hand or finger grips and are very sought after.
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