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DESCRIPTION Superb, high quality antique English Georgian solid sterling silver swing handled Sweetmeat (sweets, bon bon) Basket with hand sawn pierced work and a pierced, cast base. Possibly once part of an impressive Georgian table centrepiece epergne but more likely a fully formed standalone basket. Although styled as the very much larger fruit and bread baskets of the period, this piece was intended for sweetmeats. To the underside can be seen multiple fine, hair like scratches from William putting the final touches to the piercings. We know this because the original assayer's scrape goes through and over the fine scratches.
SILVERSMITH William Plummer, a specialist basket maker and piercer apprenticed 1746-53 to the great basket maker and piercer Edward Aldridge.
DATE or HALLMARK 1766
ASSAY OFFICE London
WEIGHT in GRAMS 149
LENGTH 6", 153mm
SILVER STANDARD ·925 silver
CONDITION excellent, no losses, no engraving or erasure, beautiful hinge action to the handle. Handle nicely hallmarked with the lion passant to the underside, see image 8. Very good and full set of hallmarks either side of hinge, see image 9.

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SOLD
Price £448
item number m9369

Available Silver Baskets for Sugar & Sweets

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