ANTIQUE SILVER BASKETS
Antique Silver Baskets Description:
A receptacle for bread, cake, fruit or sweetmeats. Often oval but sometimes round, and having a looped handle either fixed or hinged to swing.
Antique Silver Baskets History:
The earliest known examples date from about 1730, but there are some very rare circular ones from before this. They were made throughout the Georgian and Victorian periods and are still being made today.
Antique Silver Baskets Design:
Some were rectangular but the vast majority were made oval or round. They were always made with loop handles, sometimes fixed, but more often hinged to swing. Many were hand-pierced or were made from wire-work silver. This allowed the colour of the fruit or sweetmeats to be seen. The foot was often based on a collet or pedestal design, although there were some with applied cast foliate feet.
Antique Silver Baskets Collectors Note:
The level of craftsmanship and their aesthetic qualities determine their value. The piercing should be checked closely to make sure that no sections are missing. The bases are often thin or springy due to the removal of armorial crests. The swing handles should be part-marked, although early examples were not. But they must also be undamaged with good clear hallmarks, crisp detail, and well-fitting tight hinges.
