Stunning Large Neoclassical Pierced Silver Pedestal Bonbon Basket / Dish / Bowl

A magnificent large Victorian cast silver egg-shaped basket with melon fluting to the belly and pierced details to the walls, a broad mid-section of vertical strips and circles and the frieze below the rim as a stylised Vituvian type wave. Beaded borders separating the three sections. Overlaid to the basket are superbly cast neoclassical style segments of husks and paterae with the latter featuring the cameo of a woman, each topped with a tied bow. These three sets of swagged decoration are intersected with the stars of the show, three fabulous ram's heads set atop more hanging garlands and leading down into the reinforced tripod frame, the surfaces all decorated with a cast, segmented interlaced band. Set on realistically modelled goat's hoof feet and then fixed to a plain incurved triangular collet base. Fitted with the original blue glass liner. The underside of the basket and the base are both hallmarked for London 1878, maker Samuel Whitford.