Baskets
Antique Silver 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.
Sweetmeat Baskets are usually miniature versions of a cake basket of the same period. This useful item is still made today but with a change of use as a bonbon or sugar basket (sugar baskets are either unpierced or contain a glass liner).
Baskets
Antique Silver 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.
Sweetmeat Baskets are usually miniature versions of a cake basket of the same period. This useful item is still made today but with a change of use as a bonbon or sugar basket (sugar baskets are either unpierced or contain a glass liner).
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1736
John Jacob
8529 George II Silver Basket
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A rare early English sterling silver basket of oval form on a gallery foot. Excellent quality and weight. The body has a pierced latticework design and cast shell and scroll border, the centre has a hand engraved circular shield enclosing an armorial and griffin crest. The fixed handle has an excellent hand engraved decoration with a griffin rampant crest. Weight 1651 grams, 53.25 troy oz. Length 32 cms, 12.5 ins. London 1736 Maker John Jacob.
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1738
Ayme Videau
9405 Antique George II Silver Basket
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A rare George II sterling silver basket of oval form with swing handle. Excellent weight and colour. The basket has a pierced body with a shell decorated cast silver border and it stands on a flared and pierced gallery foot. At this time baskets were used mainly for bread and fruit. The centre has a crisp hand engraved decoration enclosing an empty cartouche. Weight 1585 grams, 50.9 troy oz. Height 20cm (with handle), 8.3cm (basket only). Top measures 29.5 x 26.5cm. London 1738. Maker Ayme Videau.
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1750
Samuel Herbert And Company
9082 Antique George II Silver Basket
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A rare George II sterling silver basket of oval form with swing handle. Excellent weight and colour. The basket has a pierced body with a vine decorated cast silver border and it stands on four cast lions paw feet. At this time baskets were used mainly for bread and fruit. The swing handle features a finely modelled animals head to both sides just above the hinges. The centre has a large hand engraved cartouche enclosing an armorial and above is the motto “Luceat et Crescat”. Weight 1600 grams, 51.4 troy oz. Height 28cm (total including handle), 8 cms (basket only). Top measures 34 x 28.5cm. London 1750. Maker Samuel Herbert & Co.
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1756
Samuel Herbert And Company
7222 George II Silver Basket
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A rare early English sterling silver basket of oval form having a swing handle and rope borders. With a lattice work and pierced cutwork decoration. Although a few earlier examples exist this type of basket is not generally found until the mid 18th century – at this time they were used mainly for bread and fruit. Weight 709 grams, 22.7 troy ounces. Height 8.5 cms (26 cms to top of handle). Top measures 33 x 26.5 cms. London 1756. Maker Samuel Herbert & Co.
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1764
Samuel Herbert And Company
9628 George III Antique Silver Sweetmeat Basket
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A classic style antique sterling silver basket with swing handle. Small size, possibly a Georgian epergne basket. Attractive cut work design incorporating scroll, ring, star and flowerhead motifs. Hand engraved monogram to the centre. Weight 127 grams, 4 troy ounces. Height 4.2/10.5 cm. Length 14 cm. Width 12 cm. London 1764. Maker Samuel Herbert & Co.
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1766
9623 George III Silver Sweetmeat Basket
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A very pretty antique sterling silver swing handle basket of small size. Possibly a Georgian epergne basket. Lovely pierced design decorated with flowerheads and foliage. Cast and pierced handle. Owners initials engraved to the underside. Good weight 183 grams, 5.8 troy ounces. Height 4.5/12 cm. Length 16.2 cm. Width 13.1 cm. London 1766. No visible makers mark.
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1769
John Lautier
9359 George III Silver Sugar Basket
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A very pretty antique sterling silver sweetmeat basket with blue glass liner. With rope twist handle and borders. Attractive pierced decoration with applied flowers and leaves. Weight of silver 154 grams, 5 troy ounces. Height 9 cms, 15 cms to top of handle. London 1769. Maker John Lautier.
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1770
Sarah Buttall
9877 George III Silver Sweetmeat Basket
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A very pretty antique silver swing handle basket of small size. Possibly a Georgian epergne basket. Attractive cutwork design decorated with flowerheads and other motifs. Cast and pierced handle. Weight 111 grams, 3.5 troy ounces. Height 5.2/12.8cm. Length 15.2cm. Width 12.5cm. London 1770. Maker Sarah Buttall. Sterling silver.
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1771
Charles Aldridge & Henry Green
9676 George III Silver Basket
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An elegant antique sterling silver basket with chain link design swing handle. Large size and good heavy weight. The decorative body has bead and leaf borders with attractive cut work silver. Weight 936 grams, 30 troy ounces. Height 9.6/27 cm. Length 36 cm. Width 30 cm. London 1771. Maker Charles Aldridge & Henry Green.
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1774
Robert Dennison
9495 George III Silver Basket
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A fine antique sterling silver swing handle basket with pierced work silver body and bead borders. Lovely classical style. Weight 815 grams, 26.2 troy ounces. Length 34.8cm. Width 22cm. Height 10 cm (without handle). London 1774. Maker Robert Dennison.
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1776
James Stamp
9631 George III Silver Sweetmeat Basket
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A classical style antique sterling silver basket with twist design swing handle. Small size, possibly a Georgian epergne basket. With a cut work border and applied harebell swags with tassles. Weight 127 grams, 4 troy ounces. Height 5 cm/12 cm. Length 14.1 cm. Width 10.5 cm. London 1776. Maker probably James Stamp.
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1777
Richard Morton
7933 Georgian Silver Basket
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A fine antique sterling silver swing handle basket with pierced work silver body and bead borders. Lovely classical style. In the centre there is a fine hand engraved armorial within a decorative cartouche. Weight 694 grams, 22.3 troy ounces. Length 33 cms. Width 27 cms. Height 10 cms, 24 cms (to top of handle). Sheffield 1777. Maker Richard Morton.
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1779
David Bell
6479 George III Silver Sugar Basket
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A very pretty antique sterling silver sweetmeat basket with blue glass liner. With rope twist handle and borders. Exquisite wirework with applied leaves and flowers and to the front there is a crest engraved within a cartouche. Weight of silver 159 grams, 5.1 troy ounces. Height 7 cms, 11 cms to top of handle. London 1779. Maker David Bell.
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1782
Hester Bateman
7792 Georgian Silver Sweetmeat Basket by Hester Bateman
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A delightful little antique sterling silver basket having a classic boat shape on pedestal foot. With bead borders, a swing handle and a blue glass liner. The fine and delicate hand engraving is very charming as you’d expect from this sought after female silversmith. The body has pierced cut out motifs and bright cut engraved swags and dot borders. To the front there is an engraved crest of a lion. Weight 183 grams, 5.8 troy ounces. Height 9.5/16 cms. Top 12 x 9 cms. London 1782. Maker Hester Bateman.
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1785
Robert Hennell II
9817 George III Antique Silver Basket
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An elegant antique silver swing handle basket of oval form with bead borders. Lovely classical style. The body has a pretty pierced frieze and hand engraved decoration with swags, ribbons and classical motifs. Suitable for bread, cakes and candy, flowers and fruit. Weight 809 grams, 26 troy ounces. Length 35.5cm. Width 23.5cm. Height 10cm (without handle), 27cm (to top of handle). London 1785. Maker Robert Hennell. Sterling silver.
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1789
William Plummer
8441 Georgian Silver Basket
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An elegant antique sterling silver basket with swing handle. Excellent quality chased decoration. Weight 23.5 troy ounces. Height 29 cms. Length 36 cms. Width 25 cms. London 1789. By William Plummer.
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1789
Henry Chawner
6241 George III Sugar Basket
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An elegant antique sterling silver bonbon basket with swing handle. With an engraved to the front. Very attractive oval boat shape. Excellent gauge silver. Weight 266 grams, 8.5 troy ounces. Height 12 cms (18 cms to top of handle). Length 15.5 cms. Width 9.5 cms. London 1789. Maker Henry Chawner.
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1792
Luke Proctor & Co
8368 George III Silver Basket
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A fine antique sterling silver swing handle basket with pierced work silver body and reed borders. Lovely elegant wirework style with classical motifs and bright cut engraving. Weight 673 grams, 21.6 troy ounces. Length 35.5 cms. Width 24.5 cms. Height 9-11 cms cms, 26.5 cms (to top of handle). Sheffield 1792. Maker Luke Proctor & Co.
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1793
Charles Aldridge & Henry Green
9639 George III Silver Sweetmeat Basket
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An elegant antique sterling silver basket with twist design swing handle. Small size, possibly a Georgian epergne basket. With cut work borders and harebell trails. Height 4.9/12 cm. Length 15.4 cm. Width 13 cm. London 1793. Maker probably Charles Aldridge & Henry Green.
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1795
Peter & Ann Bateman
7815 Georgian Silver Basket by Peter and Ann Bateman
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A fine antique sterling silver swing handle basket with pierced silver borders and pretty bright cut decoration. The dainty classical decoration is typical of the workmanship made famous by the Bateman family. Weight 794 grams, 25.5 troy ounces. Length 38 cm. Width 27 cm. Height 11.5 cm, 28 cm (to top of handle). London 1795. By Peter and Ann Bateman.
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Circa 1799
Thomas And Daniel Leader
5469 George III Silver Honey Skep
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A rare antique sterling silver honey jar having a domed form with basket-weave finish and disc handle. Original gilt interior. Weight 275 grams, 8.8 troy ounces. Height 13.25 cms. Diameter of base 9 cms. Sheffield 1799. Maker Thomas and Daniel Leader.
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1803
Thomas Wallis II
9879 George III Silver Basket
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An elegant antique silver swing handle basket of oval form with reed borders. Lovely classical style. The body has a scalloped edge and a broad band of hand engraved decoration of flowers and leaves. Suitable for bread, cakes and candy, flowers and fruit. Weight 833 grams, 26.7 troy ounces. Length 36cm. Width 25cm. Height 11cm (without handle), 26.5cm (to top of handle). Initials engraved to the top of the handle. London 1803. Maker Thomas Wallis II. Sterling silver.
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1807
Benjamin Smith
10137 George III Antique Silver Basket
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A very fine antique silver basket of rectangular form with swing handle and pierced silver foot. Excellent quality and weight as you’d expect from this highly desirable maker. The openwork vine borders are among the most distinctive and accomplished achievements of Benjamin Smith and similar to those of Paul Storr, not surprisingly as both firms manufactured almost entirely for Rundell and Bridge at this time. The centre has an engraved “C” within an applied cartouche with swags and bells. Weight 1322 grams, 42.5 troy ounces. Height 21.5cm (handle extended), 7.2cm (handle folded). Length 30cm. Width 24.5cm. London 1807. Maker Benjamin Smith.
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1814
Solomon Hougham
9473 George III Silver Basket
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A handsome antique sterling silver basket with swing handle. Excellent quality and weight. With the ribbed body and shell and gadroon borders typical of the period. Weight 1299 grams, 41.7 troy ounces. Height 25cm. Length 32cm. Width 26.5cm. London 1814. By Samuel Herbert.
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1817
William Elliott
9305 Regency Antique Silver Basket
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A superb Regency period sterling silver basket of oval form with swing handle. Very heavy weight. The decoration is very fine with cast silver mounts in deep relief. The body is pierced, has a flower and shell decorated cast silver border, and stands on four cast shell feet. The decorative centre has a hand engraved lion crest. Weight 2123 grams, 68.2 troy oz. Height 30cm (total including handle), 12.5 cm (basket only). Top measures 37.2 x 28.5cm. London 1817. Maker William Elliott.
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1818
Kirby Waterhouse
9829 George III Silver Basket
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A handsome antique sterling silver basket with swing handle and pedestal foot. Excellent quality and weight. With the ribbed body and gadroon borders typical of the period. The all over hand chased decoration of flowers, leaves and hatching is particularly good. Weight 1187 grams, 38.1 troy ounces. Height 285cm. Length 34.3cm. Width 28cm. Sheffield 1818. Maker Kirby Waterhouse. Sterling silver.
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1885
Pavel Ovchinnikov
9322 Antique Russian Silver Trompe l'Oeil Basket
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A rare antique silver dish fashioned as a white damask tablecloth draped over a gilt wickerwork basket. The quality of the workmanship is outstanding. Weight 744 grams, 23.9 troy ounces. Spread 40 cm. Height 7.3 cm. Basket top 32.4 x 27.3 cm. Stamped with Russian silver marks for Moscow 1885. Maker Pavel Ovchinnikov.
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1764
William Plummer
10318 George III Antique Silver Basket
£3,750
A magnificent antique silver basket of oval form with swing handle. The decoration is very fine with excellent quality hand cut pierced work to the body. Both the upper border and bottom frieze are cast with flowers, scrolls, and bells. Very good weight and colour. Weight 1540 grams, 49.5 troy oz. Height 28cm (total including handle). Top measures 37 x 32cm. London 1764. Maker William Plummer. Sterling silver.
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1758
Samuel Herbert And Company
9835 George II Silver Basket
£8,750
A magnificent George II silver basket of oval form with excellent quality hand cut pierced work and a Chinoiserie theme. This really is a very fine example. Both the upper border and bottom frieze are cast with flowers, scrolls, and Chinese face masks. The swing handle has a cast figure of a Chinese lady to both sides. The centre is beautifully engraved with a coat of arms within a large decorative cartouche. Very good weight and colour. Weight 1770 grams, 56.9 troy oz. Height 30cm (total including handle), 12cm (basket only). Top measures 38 x 32cm. London 1758. Maker Samuel Herbert & Co. Sterling silver.
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1771
William Plummer
10346 George III Antique Silver Basket
£2,750
A handsome antique silver basket of oval form with swing handle and applied oval foot with rope trim. Lovely decorative detail with embossed swags of harebells and classical medallions. Excellent quality hand cut pierced work to the body. Very good size and colour. Hand engraved to the centre is family coat of arms within a finely executed floral cartouche. Weight 1148 grams, 36.9 troy oz. Height 28cm (total including handle). Top measures 35.5 x 29.5cm. London 1771. Maker William Plummer. Sterling silver.
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Circa 1780
9862 Georgian Silver Basket
£1,250
A superb antique silver swing handle basket with pierced work silver body and bead borders. Lovely classical style with bands of matting and Roman emperor face masks. In the centre there are hand engraved crests of a stag and unicorn within a decorative cartouche. Weight 1143 grams, 36.7 troy ounces. Length 37cm. Width 28cm. Height 10.3cm, 27cm (to top of handle). Unmarked silver. Circa 1780. English sterling silver.
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