A Victorian silver-gilt sweetmeat basket , Frederick Brasted, London, 1864

Given by Queen Elizabeth to Martin Charteris (1913-1999) in 1988 after he had organized a lunch for her at The Connaught Hotel, in celebration of his 75th birthday.

Frederick Brasted (baptized 26 March 1828 - 1 June 1888), who was educated at Christ's Hospital, Newgate Street, was the son of Thomas Brasted of Suffolk Street, Cambridge Road, Middlesex, grocer (and sometime carpenter). Apprenticed for seven years on 7 June 1843 to William Robert Smily of 9 Camomile Street, City of London, plate worker. (London Metropolitan Archives, ELJL/1825/21), he was married at St. James, Shoreditch on 6 August 1850 to Susannah Livermore, by whom he had several children. About 1857 he went into partnership with the silversmith John Bell (1809/10 – 17 April 1862) at 6 (later 37) President Street, Clerkenwell, trading as Bell & Brasted. Following Bell's death Brasted continued alone until his own death after which the firm was continued by his wife, Susannah and then his son, Harry. For further information, see John Culme, Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Woodbridge, 1987, vol. I, pp. 37 and 38.

Dobson of Piccadilly, the once well-known retail gold and silversmith of Piccadilly and later 110 New Bond Street, London, was founded in or before 1814 by Thomas Wilkinson. About 1845 the latter's son, John, went into business with Henry Holmes Dobson (3 July 1826 - 30 January 1886) until the dissolution of their partnership on 1 January 1851. (The London Gazette, London, 10 January 1851, p. 69) Thereafter Dobson's was continued with various members of the Dobson family until closing, probably in 1914. Frederick Brasted was among a number of manufacturing silversmiths who regularly supplied work to Dobson's, others being Hukin & Heath, Wakely & Wheeler, James Dixon & Sons and Nathan & Hayes.