Early 19th-Century English Staffordshire Pearlware Reticulated Chestnut Basket, Circa 1820–1835

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Description

A beautifully decorative early 19th-century English pearlware chestnut basket featuring an elaborate grape-and-vine design in shades of blue-gray, green, brown … Read more A beautifully decorative early 19th-century English pearlware chestnut basket featuring an elaborate grape-and-vine design in shades of blue-gray, green, brown and cream.

The shallow rectangular basket has gently scalloped sides, pierced reticulation worked into the foliage, and applied branch-form handles. Clusters of grapes and large vine leaves cover both the interior and exterior, while a dark brown painted line follows the undulating rim.

The decoration is closely related in subject and palette to Spode pattern 3214, a circa 1815–1830 grape-and-vine pattern known on pearlware serving pieces and reticulated chestnut baskets. This example is unmarked, however, and is therefore conservatively attributed to English Staffordshire manufacture rather than to a specific factory.

Chestnut baskets were fashionable serving pieces during the Georgian and Regency periods and were designed with pierced sides to allow roasted chestnuts to cool while being presented at the table. See less