BARLOW NANTUCKET Handbags/Nantucket Lightship Handbag/Nantucket Basket/Vintage Nantucket Purse/Nantucket Basket Purse/GOOD Vintage Condition

Circa 1980's Barlow Nantucket Handbag with a Clipper Ship

Signed Barlow on the Bottom

This is an 80's Barlow Handbag with a lovely ivoryrite Plaque of a Clipper Ship. The inside is lined in a floral fabric in white with pink and white flowers and green leaves. There is a small slide pocket inside. This handbag is labeled made exclusively for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Ivoryrite, synthetic ivory was used for the plaque on the top. Ivoryrite was created as a substitute for ivory to eliminate the needless harm to animals.

A Little History of the Nantucket Handbag:

In 1948 Jose Reyes came to Nantucket from the Phillipines and started the business of basket making. He conceived the idea of having covers on them and selling them as handbags for ladies. Charles Sayle worked with him and carved ivory whales for the top ornament or hand etched scrimshaw on ivory.

Over the last 40 years the Nantucket Lighthouse Basket used as a handbag has become more and more popular and today you will see these unique baskets being carried all over the world, a SYMBOL OF NANTUCKET ISLAND.

Measurements - Length - 10. 25" including the handle

Width - 7. 75"

Height - 7" without the handle, 11. 75" with the handle

This Lovely will easily hold any size Cell Phone and your other accessories.

GOOD Vintage Condition - This lovely is qualified as since it has a few little drip type marks on the handle. Some of the Barlow Handbags have these. It evidently was part of the finishing process and does not affect the Beauty of the Handbag.

This item is sold from an excellent, highly rated vintage boutique in Birmingham, AL.