1951 Dutch Pierced Silver Bread Basket

• Bread Basket - Bread baskets were commonly used from the 17th to the 19th centuries in Europe and America as a serving piece at formal meals. In the early 17th century, bread baskets were made of wood, pewter and later silver as it was an expensive and prestigious material and demonstrated off the host?s wealth and status.
  
  These bread baskets were usually oval or circular in shape, and were typically decorated with intricate engravings, embossing, and other decorative details. Some were plain and simple, while others were quite ornate, featuring raised scrollwork, beading, or other decorative motifs. Those made in the early 17th century tend to have two handles but surviving examples are rare. From the mid 1770s they usually have a central swing handle. The handles were typically ornate and often curved or scrolled. The shape and size of these baskets varies; some are large, meant to hold multiple loaves, others are more compact and meant for one loaf. By the 18th century, most bread baskets were made of silver.
• Hallmarks - A mark stamped on articles of precious metals in Britain, since the 14th century, certifying their purity. It derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay (test the purity) and mark articles of gold and silver.
  
  The hallmark will consist of several marks, including the:
  
  - silver standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal. Sterling silver is .925 pure silver.
  
  - the city mark indicating the city in which it was assayed eg London, Birmingham, York etc.
  
  - the date mark, usually a letter of the alphabet in a particular font and case,
  
  - a duty mark, indicating whether duty had been paid to the crown, and only in use from 1784 to 1890
  
  The piece may include an additional mark, the maker's mark, although not forming part of the hallmark, will be located in the vicinity of the hallmarks.
  
  Sometimes silver plated items will bear faux hallmarks, often confusing those not familiar with silver markings.
• Acanthus - A stylized leaf motif, one of the primary decorative elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, derived from the genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Mediterranean area. It is a common element in classical Greek and Roman design, and is often seen in Corinthian and Composite order columns and used as a decorative element in English, European and Australian furniture, particularly on the curve of a leg, and as decoration for a corbel.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• baskets, silver, type - bread 27