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Author	Topic: Wire basket
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 01-26-2006 12:50 AM [01-2379] Above is an unmarked basket that has always intrigued me because of the snakes running up, or perhaps slithering up the handles. A snake among the leaves seems appropriate and no doubt had some symbolic meaning at the time this basket was made. The construction of this basket is also interesting. Below is a picture of the side where the wires are attached to the base and another picture of the underside where a pin appears to hold the base to the side. The pin goes through a flange that is soldered to the base. You can see the pin exiting on the basket side at the top of the oval medallion in the first picture. Each of the four sides is held to the base with a pin and it does not appear that the base is attached to the sides in any other way; i.e. it is not soldered to the sides. I think this method was used so that the base could be removed by simply removing the pins. Perhaps the silversmith was thinking of repairs being needed in subsequent years in the area where the wires are attached to the body and planned for an easy separation of the two parts. It may also be that this method somehow helped in the initial construction. Any thoughts by our silversmiths would be welcome. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 01-26-2006 11:52 AM I am not a silversmith, but one thing that has always struck me about this type of construction is the flexiblity it gives the piece. Fruit can be placed in here and the wires will give a little. Had they been rigidly in place, there would be more breakage. My other thought is that usually these are French. With erratic markings. IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 01-26-2006 12:53 PM If this were intended as a fruit basket, the snake motif could be an allegorical reference to the snake in the Garden of Eden (but, then, you would expect a depiction of an apple, as well). Seems to convey a rather negative implication, but you can never tell. . . . IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 01-26-2006 02:14 PM Apples appear to be the fruit of choice for this basket! IP: Logged
dragonflywink Posts: 993 Registered: Dec 2002	posted 01-26-2006 05:12 PM Lovely piece! To me, something about the elegant form, the prominent ball feet, and the distinctive head on the serpent suggests early 19th century Danish pieces. Serpents and dragons were important in Scandinavian mythology and folklore, often showing up in their decorative arts. Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 01-26-2006 05:55 PM Overall,the form says early 19th C to me. It is French Empire style, which was popular here in the US as well as throughout continental Europe. It could be American coin, but it does seem a little "European" in the detail. The time period, early to mid 19th C, would be applicable regardless of origin. Nice piece, Brent IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 01-26-2006 07:42 PM One of my rule of thumbs involves measuring a piece in both English and metric systems. Then the one which gives whole number results gives a clue to origin. Strange but actually works for many pieces. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 01-26-2006 09:31 PM Your supposition of removal, both for the making and repair is correct. Any construction in silver where its conductivity makes it a real challenge to solder together, it is common for a smith to pin, wedge or bolt large and small pieces together. It would be interesting to see it apart, but only if you are comfortable taking it apart. Its a lovely piece and it is purely a guess but could those be "Don't tread on me" serpents? All American drum beating nationalism... IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 01-28-2006 01:24 AM Thank you all for such interesting observations. Dragonflywink I agree with you that serpent is the better name for this mythological symbol. When I brought this basket some years ago I was of the opinion that it was American (since it had no makers mark on it), was of the same time period as teapots with balled feet (1810-20) and that the serpent represented the "Don't tread on me" motto. However, most of the serpents associated with that motto are rattlesnakes and as you can see below this serpent does not have rattles. Also the head is not really that menacing looking, so perhaps the silversmith had something else in mind. The engraving shown below is later than that time (I think it would be no earlier than 1830s) but of course the initials could have been engraved later at a later date. Dale I am still looking for a metric ruler, but of the measurements I have taken in the English system none come out exactly above the 1/8" increment. Agleopar I wish I had the skills to remove the pins as I was doing well to guess why the silversmith did it in the first place. I really love the use of wire in silver objects and the lightness that it imparts to the object. Sometimes less is really more and I think this silversmith really understood that. I do wish I knew who he or she was. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 01-28-2006 10:58 AM A search of collections might turn up the same style and maybe get close to an attribution? There is something about that delicacy in objects and I find it one of the harder things to achieve. To the 18th and 19th century smiths weight was what it was all about and the look came second, but they would not have made a heavy out of balance object even if they could have used more silver. [This message has been edited by agleopar (edited 01-29-2006).] IP: Logged
t-man-nc Posts: 327 Registered: Mar 2000	posted 02-09-2006 06:54 PM Nothing I can put my finger on, but I get a "Nordic" Feeling from it not based on the Serpent... I wish I could hold it in my hands, it may be the Base and the Ball Feet... Hummm "Smaug" IP: Logged

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