Basket with 5 Castle-top Scenes by NM

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Basket - 5 Castle-top scenes - Birmingham 1838 by Nathaniel Mills - 11.7cm wide; 10cm high; 90g - FP/3186

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This is a fabulous Victorian silver basket with interesting decoration in the form of 5 embossed scenes depicting famous British buildings. These scenes are part of the "castle top" series that generally adorned souvenir silver pieces such as vinaigrettes, card cases and snuff boxes, that were bought by wealthy travellers around the UK following the advent of the railways. Baskets are much more scarce than boxes and generally feature a single scene - this example benefits from four bonus landscapes and indicates some extensive travelling around the de rigueur destinations of the period.

 

The five scenes depicted are: to the centre Windsor Castle (home to Queen Victoria) and around the outside, Abbotsford House (home of Sir Walter Scott), Newstead Abbey (home to Lord Byron), Warwick Castle & Kenilworth Castle. The maker, Nathaniel Mills, is acknowledged as the most accomplished of the Birmingham box makers and this is a fine basket bearing a clear hallmark. The interior of the basket is gilt, the condition is excellent throughout and if put to practical use the basket would be ideal for sweets, mints and other nibbles.