3-015-659 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Basket, c1700. An earl's coronet sits above the coat of arms in the center of this octagonal silver basket. The borders are extensively pierced and much of the fine patterning has been hammered into relief from the back of the silver—a technique known as repoussé. The basket was probably not intended to be used; it is more likely to have been placed on display where its elaborate decoration would attract admiration and compliments.