Michael Kane, Craftsman & Jeweler
Craftsman, Michael Kane, began weaving his heritage through Nantucket Lightship Baskets in 1969. He learned his trade from his grandparents, Mr and Mrs. William Reis, Sr., and began his own successful business while still in the eighth grade.
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His baskets are crafted with sturdy oak staves and handles, woven with rattan, and rest on a solid wooden bottom. They are often accented with beautiful decorations of ivory carvings and scrimshaw. His grandparents taught him to use oak instead of cane because experience taught them that oak is the sturdiest and would make the finest basket.
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Michael’s first basket was sold in 1969 at his mother’s business, Bette’s Luncheonette in the Nantucket Pharmacy. As the years passed he began to supply baskets of various sizes to Morgan Levine at the Four Winds Craft Guild. Michael soon established a well-known name for himself and decided to branch out on his own. He moved to his present location where he is producing the finest baskets of a unique craft which has lasted for over 200 years. Michael is best known as the originator of the tight weave.
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We are pleased to showcase the lightship basket and fine jewelry of Michael Kane here at Reef Gallery.
