Aesthetic Movement Victorian Derby Silver Plate Cake Basket Circa 1883

An over-the-top Aesthetic Movement cake basket with all the bells and whistles including crane figural feet. This cake basket design is pictured in the American Silverplate Book revised edition by Rainwater.

In the central well of the cake basket is a design of a crane in a marsh with cattails, reeds, and water lilies. There are molded geometric bands at the rim and an etched geometric band around the central well design. The feet are cranes with wings open. The handle is ribbed with tiny beading. The handle stands up on its own.

The stamped mark on the base is faint and hard to read. What I read shows DERBY SILVER QUADRUPLE PLATE Co. all circling an anchor and crown.

9 ½” (24.1 cm) diameter x 10” (25.4 cm) tall with handle extended. 5 ½” (14.0 cm) tall with handle down. Weighs 2 lbs 5.0 oz (1045 g)

There are no cracks, or breaks, and there is still significant silver. The body has no dents. There are wear scratches to the inner well. The handle appears to be a little bent but stands perfectly.

This is a premier cake basket and a real showstopper. It doesn’t get any better than this.