Stock No. 3045	George III sterling silver Irish basket
Very attractive and typically Irish George III sterling silver, oval, pierced basket, on oval foot with swing handle. Dublin 1792 by Joseph Jackson. The oval foot has a band of reeding, above which is a band of vertical piercing. This is echoed by a larger band of vertical piercing on the inside of the basket. Above this is a band of bright cut roundels interspersed by piercing. Above this band are festoons of bright-cut swags of flowers and swags of zig-zag engraving in between oval pierced cartouches with bright-cut engraved vertical shaped diamond centres. Above, is another band of bright-cut and pierced decoration just below the reeded rim. The very elegant swing handle is bordered by a heavy band of reeding on both sides of the front and decorated with a bright-cut empty oval cartouche, with bright-cut engraving of flowers and leaves on either side. The inside of the handle is plain and is not hallmarked, which is perfectly acceptable in an Irish basket of this date. The body of the basket is fully hallmarked on the base, underneath the foot. Maker :- Joseph Jackson

Condition :-Very good condition. The engraving still has good definition and the hallmarks are very clear apart from a slight rubbing at the base of the maker's mark
Hallmarked :- Dublin 1792
Size :-	13.8 inches (35 cm) long 10.3 inches (26.2 cm) wide 9.1 inches (23.1cm) high to top of handle
Weight :- 22ozt (684 g)
Pierced and bright-cut baskets are the most sought after to-day. They were originally used for cakes or bread but could also be used for fruit or many other objects. This basket would make an extremely elegant table centre. Joseph Jackson was apprenticed to Robert Glanville in 1761. He was elected Warden of The Goldsmiths Company in 1791-3 and elected Master in 1795-6.

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