A Fine Antique George III Sterling Silver Armorial Cake Basket London 1794

Important George III Sterling Silver Armorial Cake Basket

London, 1794

A fine and elegant George III sterling silver cake basket, hallmarked in London in 1794. The basket is of classic oval form, raised on a circular pedestal foot and fitted with its original swing handle, allowing it to be carried and presented at the table.

The rim of the basket and the foot are decorated with refined reeded borders, a design that continues along the length of the handle, creating a balanced and harmonious Georgian aesthetic. The interior of the basket is engraved with a finely executed armorial achievement, comprising a quartered heraldic shield surmounted by a coronet and flanked by two birds of prey as supporters. The armorial is framed within an elegant wreath of oak leaves and acorns, tied with a ribbon at the base — a classical symbol of strength and endurance.

The underside bears a full set of British hallmarks for London, 1794, including the lion passant for sterling silver, the crowned leopard’s head for the London Assay Office, the date letter “t”, and the sovereign’s duty mark of King George III.

The basket has been professionally cleaned and polished by a silversmith and is presented in excellent antique condition, ready for immediate use. The original swing handle remains fully functional with good hinge tension, and the silver surface shows only light wear consistent with age.

Elegant and refined, this piece is a superb example of late 18th-century English Georgian silver, originally commissioned for a distinguished household and ideal today as both a decorative centerpiece and a fine collector’s object.

Dimensions

Height: 10.5 cm (4.13 in)

Length: 33 cm (13 in)

Width: 22.5 cm (8.86 in)

Weight

690 grams

Origin

London, England

Date

1794

• Armorial engraving

• Excellent condition