A George II silver basket, George Wickes, London, 1741

shaped oval, on four cast scroll and mask supports, the sides richly pierced below an applied cast border and swing handle, the interior engraved with a coat-of-arms within a rococo cartouche

A sound basket of good weight and the marks are clear in spite of the entire surface having been professionally-cleaned and given a modern 'jeweller's finish,' complete with satin-finished underside. For further queries regarding this lot please contact the Silver Department directly on +44(0)207.293.5100.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The arms, which appear to have been engraved at a slightly later date, are those of Herst alias Grove, Delahay, Harpden or Parnell or Pernell with Grove, Delahay or Hurst in pretence.

A careful search of George Wickes's first and second Gentleman's Ledgers (Victoria & Albert Museum, Archive of Art and Design, London, AAD/1995/7/1 and 2) finds only one 'bread basket' of 1741/42 of approximately the same weight as this present example. Weighing 58oz 1dwt, it was supplied at a cost of £17 8s on 10 November 1741 to 'The Honble. Coll Forth.' This appears to have been Major (later Colonel) Forth who died at his house in Sackville Street, St. James's, Piccadilly, in January 1757. By his will (proved on 3 March 1757, UK National Archives, PROB11/828), Forth 'left his Fortune (which is very considerable) to Captain Tonning, of the Dragoons' (The London Chronicle, Thursday, 13 January 1757, p. 26). This was Captain (later General) Patrick Tonyn (1725-1804), who was Governor of East Florida between 1775 and 1783. The London Chronicle's report was not entirely correct, however, for Colonel Forth left his Sackville Street house and the bulk of its contents, including plate, to his widow, Mary, who died in 1765; her will was proved on 12 December that year (PROB 11/914), after which her property was dispersed.

For a similar basket with identical cast border and swing handle, engraved with the arms of Frederick, Prince of Wales, George Wickes, London, 1743, see Elaine Barr, George Wickes, Royal Goldsmith 1698-1761, p. 153, pl. 98.