Wonderful Edwardian Dutch silver bon bon basket accompanied by a pair of English sterling sugar tongs. The bowl is of oval boat shape, resting on cast lion paw feet. The body has a wonderfully ornate pierced openwork design that depicts foliage, flowers, scrolls and birds. The basket is decorated with side medallions that depict traditional village pastimes – on one side two figures are ice-skating with a windmill in the background and on the other side, a cow is being milked. The centre of the bowl is embossed with an additional scene of several men gambling around a large barrel, while musicians play in the background. The sugar tongs have beautiful applied scroll and shell decoration.

The basket is made by M. Bijkamp & Co (H.R. Bijkamp / Firma Bijkamp & Co) and hallmarked with lion passant “2” for 833 silver, Minerva’s head with “F” for Leeuwarden assay office and date letter “B” for 1911. The tongs are made by Walker & Hall and hallmarked for Sheffield, 1916.

121.86 g / 3.92 t oz total weight

98.36 g – basket

23.50 – tongs

Tongs – 10.5 cm long

Basket – 3.5 to 5.5 cm tall, 7 x 12 across the top, 5.5 x 7.5 cm across the base

Great antique condition.