Description

An elegant antique silver basket of oval form with a swing handle and rope borders. The simple basket weave decoration creates a clean classical style. Hand engraved to the centre is a large armorial within a decorative cartouche, the motto below reads “In Cruce Salus”. These handy multi-purpose serving baskets were originally used for bread and fruit but now are equally perfect for cakes or flowers.

Weight 773 grams, 24.8 troy ounces.
Height 7.7cm (26 cms to top of handle). Top measures 33 x 24.5cm.
London 1753.
Maker Samuel Herbert & Co.
Sterling silver

Arms. The arms are for Lawrence impaled with Rich. Possibly of the branch of this Lawrence family: Lawrence of Cowsfield House, co. Wilts, Mossley Hall, co. Lancaster, and Fairfield, in Jamaica; John Lawrence settled in Jamaica 1676, a younger son of Henry Lawrence, Esq., of St. Ives, co. Huntingdon.

Literature: Fruit Baskets are nearly always described as cake baskets but were more commonly used for bread and fruit. Although 17th century versions are known to exist they were not commonly found until about 1735 onwards. Early examples usually have side handles or no handles and tend to be considerably heavier than George III examples and later.

In very good condition.

Maker: Samuel Herbert And Company

Samuel Herbert, London silversmith, apprenticed 1736 to Edward Aldridge I, of the Clothworkers Company, and goldsmith of Gutter Lane. Free 1744. 1st mark as largeworker entered 1747. 2nd mark as Samuel Herbert & Co 1750 (initials SH.HB), in parnership with Henry Bailey who was apprenticed to and then journeyman to Edward Aldridge (the Constable’s Book for the precinct of St Leonard’s, which included the southern part of Foster Lane, includes Bayley and Herbert in the list of New Comers in 1750. In 1763 Herbert took Burrage Davenport as apprentice. Herbert’s workshop specialised in pierced platework particularly baskets and some epergnes.

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