Basket
1786-1787 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This type of basket held either cake, fruit or bread and would have been handed round the table. It was a particularly popular but expensive item of tableware between 1700 and 1800. During this period dishes and condiments for the table became more varied and new forms of silver tableware evolved.
Sauceboats, tureens and dishes for salad and sweetmeats were all brought to the table at the start of each course. Cruet sets for oil and vinegar, and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper stayed on the table throughout the meal and waiters offered them to the diners. Almost all such tableware was engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed.
Sauceboats, tureens and dishes for salad and sweetmeats were all brought to the table at the start of each course. Cruet sets for oil and vinegar, and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper stayed on the table throughout the meal and waiters offered them to the diners. Almost all such tableware was engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | Silver, London hallmarks for 1786-7, mark of William Eley and William Edwards |
| Physical description | Cake or bread basket. Silver,oval with border pierced with key hole pattern interspersed with bright cut rosettes, reeded swing handle. Base engraved with a coat of arms (unidentified). |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label | BREAD BASKET
London, 1786-7
Mark perhaps William J. Edwards
Engraved with unidentified arms
W.T. Johnson Bequest
M.1698-1944 |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by W. J. Johnson |
| Object history | Bequest - W J Johnson Esq. Acquisition RF: 44 / 505 |
| Summary | This type of basket held either cake, fruit or bread and would have been handed round the table. It was a particularly popular but expensive item of tableware between 1700 and 1800. During this period dishes and condiments for the table became more varied and new forms of silver tableware evolved. Sauceboats, tureens and dishes for salad and sweetmeats were all brought to the table at the start of each course. Cruet sets for oil and vinegar, and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper stayed on the table throughout the meal and waiters offered them to the diners. Almost all such tableware was engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.1698-1944 |
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| Record created | September 10, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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