Description

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.

Literature. Antique Silver 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.

Marks Stamped on the bottom rim with a full set of English silver hallmarks, handle with lion and makers mark.

The silver basket is in very good condition.

Maker: Thomas Wallis II

Thomas Wallis II, London silversmith, son of Billers Wallis, victualler, apprenticed to Thomas Wallis I in 1771, free 1779. 1st mark entered as plateworker 1778. 4 marks as bucklemaker 1780-89. Livery 1791. 6th mark as plateworker (2 sizes) 1792. 7th mark (6 punches) 1796. 8th mark (6 punches) 1801. 9th mark, 2 sizes, in partnership with Jonathan Hayne as plateworkers 1810. 10th mark, 3 sizes, 1817. 11th mark 1820. Partnership dissolved 1821 when Hayne entered a separate mark. Also Francis Mayor, apprenticed to Wallis in 1816, was turned over to Hayne in 1821 suggesting the retirement of Wallis. Wallis died 1836.

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