| INDEX | ALL SILVER |
| DESCRIPTION | Large and superb antique English Georgian solid sterling silver swing handled bread basket with pierced, embossed and cast decoration and central armorial above motto engraving within the base. The motto 'SIC ITUR AD ASTA' (Thus They Go To Heaven) may be linked to the Ballenden family. These items can be term 'bread' or 'fruit' baskets. I will use the term bread basket as I believe that fruit use has aided the demise of so many of these baskets. The Georgians used fruit, especially the exotic varieties, more as a display of wealth than a source of nutrition. The result of leaking acid juices from over-ripe fruit and the following overly zealous polishing to remove the burning and staining of the silver has been ruinous. Several years ago a friend of mine, let us call him Rob for no better reason than that is his name, asked me to find him a good example of these baskets. Although now quite rare I managed to see more than most people will see in a lifetime and common problems were apparent. The worst example resembled a string vest when I lifted it up. So many failed old repairs, perilously thin silver and broken sections that the poor thing simply sagged and jangled pathetically. It correctly sold for metal minus costs. Of the better examples there were still always repairs, old lead was common, holes to the pierced panels, erased bottoms, thin patches and floppy handles. My joy at finding this example is immense and only tempered by the fact that it was suitably expensive. None of the above issues, a perfect basket from 1772. |
| SILVERSMITH | Charles Aldridge & Henry Green |
| DATE or HALLMARK | 1772 |
| ASSAY OFFICE | London |
| WEIGHT in GRAMS | 1277 |
| LENGTH | 14 ½", 366mm |
| SILVER STANDARD | ·925 sterling silver |
| CONDITION | excellent |
| USA IMPORT TAX | USA resident buyers are now required to pay their US import tax at the time of posting. This tax has been added into the USA postage charge and will not need to be paid again. This applies to US buyers only. |
| UK BUYERS | VAT FREE until the end of this year. This applies to UK buyers only. |
select any image to enlarge
| SOLD |
| Price £1,950 |
| item number m9237 |
| Available Bread Baskets |
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