Paul Storr Pair of George IV Sterling Silver Fruit or Dessert Baskets, London, 1823/24

This important pair of stands or baskets is executed in a very rare and striking design by Paul Storr. The bodies are textured in various styles of seamless interwoven basket work. Separating the designs are applied rows of braided rope. Surmounting the edges of the bodies are rows of classical leaves placed between dramatic splaying loops of silver wire which are bordered by bands of braided rope. These bands on the top of the basket match the bands on the feet.

Rarely seen on the market today, this iconic design was featured by the famous English Regency collector and decorator Thomas Hope in his Household Furniture and Interior Decoration of 1807. (One basket is shown on a classical pedestal in Plate L.) Hope owned a set of four silver-gilt baskets in this design. (1)

These extraordinary stands or baskets are fully hallmarked underneath. They measure 10 inches in diameter by 6.25 inches high and weigh an impressive 69.15 troy ounces. They are in excellent antique condition.

Endnote:

1. Christopher Hartop, Art in Industry: The Silver of Paul Storr, (Cambridge: John Adamson, 2015), p.41.