Code: FA1817
A magnificent large Victorian cast silver egg-shaped basket with melon fluting to the belly and pierced details to the walls, a broad mid-section of vertical strips and circles and the frieze below the rim as a stylised Vituvian type wave. Beaded borders separating the three sections. Overlaid to the basket are superbly cast neoclassical style segments of husks and paterae with the latter featuring the cameo of a woman, each topped with a tied bow. These three sets of swagged decoration are intersected with the stars of the show, three fabulous ram's heads set atop more hanging garlands and leading down into the reinforced tripod frame, the surfaces all decorated with a cast, segmented interlaced band. Set on realistically modelled goat's hoof feet and then fixed to a plain incurved triangular collet base. Fitted with the original blue glass liner.
The underside of the basket and the base are both hallmarked for London 1878, maker Samuel Whitford.
It measures 15cm (5 15/16") high and 10cm (3 15/16") across the base and 10.2cm (4") across the diameter of the rim. It weighs in total 824g with a substantial silver weight of 531g / 17.1ozt.
In truly excellent condition with no damage or repairs, no dents, or losses and very minor handling wear. All the decoration is perfectly crisp as are the hallmarks. There is a simple and attractive D monogram to the centre of the base. Two of the nuts that hold the base to the frame have been replaced at some point but clearly not recently and of no consequence to the piece itself.
