What-is-it question CLVI.

[2209patrick]

This silver basket was made by Baldwin Gardiner, New York City ( 1827-1846 ).
Measurements are 11.75 inches ( 29.85 cm.) long, 9.875 inches ( 25.08 cm.) wide and 4.75 inches ( 12.07 cm.) tall.

This type of basket became popular in the UK around 1760 and was produced into the 19th century.

Looking for the term used to describe these baskets ( refers to how they were made ).



Pat.
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[larkfield]

Is this a wickerwork basket.
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[2209patrick]

Hello Larkfield.

You are very, very close, but this is not an example of wickerwork silverware.
Wickerwork silverware is decorated to resemble basketwork with the interlacing or criss-crossing of wicker.

Here is a British example of what we are looking for here.
This was made by Paul Storr in 1817.



Pat.
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[JLDoggett]

Here that would be refered to as a reed-work basket. The Storr one is a particularily dificult type to make. It is either made of heavy wires bent perfectly and soldered together, not as easy as it sounds or unbent wires soldered parrallel then bent and flattened without distortion an unpleasent experience. Possibly they were cast, but that too has difficulties due to the pattern, quite a few castings would have been less than perfect. A drawswedge would give you the flat straight version, but bending the arc, then flattening, without distortion or damaging the pattern woul make this a very dear item.
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[2209patrick]

Hello JLDoggett.

Reed-work basket sounds good, but that is not the term my references use.
The sides of these baskets were made with silver that was drawn into wires.
My books call these "wirework" baskets.

Pat.
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[wev]

I suspect the piece was actually made by Fletcher & Gardiner of Philadelphia and retailed by Baldwin Gardiner in New York City.
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[larkfield]

Next time I will listen to my better half. She said wirework and I ignored her.
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