Stock No. 3125	Hester Bateman silver sugar basket
	Very elegant and unusual George III sterling silver sugar basket by Hester Bateman. London 1789. This basket is unusual as it was made without a handle. The oval pedestal foot has an applied reeded moulding and there is bright cut decoration around the edge of the top of the foot. The boat-shaped body is plain except for a contemporary family crest engraved on one side. The rim of the body has an applied reeded moulding. Below the rim, at the top of the inside of the body, there is some very decorative bright-cut engraving which, although delicately done, is still very crisp and clear. The full hallmarks are stamped on the underside of the foot and are excellent.
	Maker :- Hester Bateman

Condition :-Very good indeed with extremely crisp hallmarks and a pleasing patina
Hallmarked :- London 1789
Size :-	3.9 inches (9.9 cm) high x 6.4 inches (16.26 cm) long x 4.2 inches (10.67 cm) wide at top of rim
Weight :- 6.83 ozt (212.6 g)
This basket has obviously been very well looked after and much loved. The fact that there is no handle makes the basket even more versatile and it can be used as a container for a large number of things, including bon-bons, whipped cream, jellies and sauces, cherries and grapes, etc.. It would make a marvellous gift. Hester Bateman's work always had an indefinable elegance of line which made it outstanding. She was the mother of Ann, Peter and Jonathan and grandmother of William Bateman I.

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