George III Half-Fluted Silver Sugar Basket

A very pretty George III silver sugar basket.

The oval body is half-fluted, with very attractive engraving of swags and garlands around both cartouches. One is engraved with the crest of the Beatson family of Sussex and Scotland, and their motto: 'CUM PRUDENTIA SEDULUS'; the other cartouche is engraved with a contemporary monogram.

There are also delicate bands of brightcut engraving around the body and the oval pedestal foot. Unusually, the thread handle goes from end to end, rather than from side to side.

Although this was originally made as a basket for sugar, these days it can be used for chocolates, small cookies, nuts or raisins.

This lovely George III half-fluted silver sugar basket was made in 1796 by Solomon Hougham of London.