Antique 18th Century extremely rare Chinese solid silver filigree & enamel lidded basket, of lobed form supported on six leaf shaped feet, the delicate hand woven filigree is applied with enamel floral plaques, the sides with a looped handle and the cover mounted with a melon shaped finial. The workmanship is of the highest quality and can only be made by 18-19th century master silversmiths, the quality of this basket resembles the style of a well respected Canton retail silversmith Cutshing, who was renowned for creating enamelled and jeweled filigree items for the European Royal households, the Russian imperial court, Arab Sultanates and Maharajah's palaces. A very similar example can be seen at the Hermitage Museum (Winters Palace, St-Petersburg) that was once used by Catherine the Great (reign 1729-1796).

The top of the lid has an oval cartooche engraved with the Mainwaring coat of arms, the family name goes back as far as the Norman Conquest of 1066, This family originally known as the Mesnil Warin, brought to England from France by William the Conqueror, who generosity gave his family and friends most of the land previously owned by the Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. According to Sir Bernard Burke, this coat of arms was awarded to the family of mainwaring in Over Peover, Chester by Ranulphus de Mainwaring, (son of Eudes-au-Capel "Dapifer" de la Haye, Baron of La Haye, senechal of Normandy), who accompanied Conqueror of England. The Mainwaring family owned majority of there land in Over Peover, co, Chester and had notable wealth and closely involved in politics.

CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.

SIZE
Height: 23cm
Width: 26cm
Weight: 465g

REFERENCE NUMBER: A4603

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