Antique Victorian Footed Bonbon Basket / Master Berry Dish

Manufacturer: Wilcox Silver Plate Co. (Meriden, Connecticut)

Estimated Date: Circa 1880s – 1890s

Up for sale is a beautiful, diminutive late 19th-century Victorian footed bonbon or master berry basket produced by the renowned Wilcox Silver Plate Co. This lovely Gilded Age piece features a striking embossed swirl panel design, an individually defined, high-relief beaded rim, and an ornate, pierce-carved foliate footed base.

The craftsmanship is exceptional, featuring a heavy-gauge central rod handle tightly wrapped in a dual-strand twisted wire design. The interior of the bowl retains its original GILT (gold wash) finish, which was designed to protect the silver from fruit acids and still exhibits a warm, elegant golden glow.

Dimensions

Bowl Diameter: Approx. 5.5"

Bowl Height: Approx. 2" (excluding the handle)

Hallmarks & Markings (Stamped on Base)

Wilcox Silver Plate Co. circular stamp with crossed hammers trademark

"Quadruple Plate"

"Meriden, Conn."

Pattern/Design Number: "89"

"GILT"

Production Notes

Early Catalog Line: The low, two-digit pattern number "89" indicates this piece comes from one of Wilcox's early, foundational Gilded Age design series, preceding their much larger three- and four-digit production lines from later in the century.

Hand-Stamped Custom Finish: The "89" and "GILT" markings were applied using individual, manual factory hand-punches next to the primary maker's mark. This logs the piece as a premium, factory-customized variant featuring the high-end gold wash interior.

Condition Report

Overall: Excellent antique condition with a fantastic, unpolished natural patina. The silver plate shows great coverage with no heavy base-metal bleed-through. The interior features the original GILT (gold wash) finish as noted by the factory stamp; please note that due to over 130 years of history and past polishing, the gold-wash interior is now faint and subtle, showing as a soft, warm hue rather than a bright gold.

Handle & Hinges: The swing handle mechanism is completely structurally sound. The original mechanical rivets are tight and robust, showing no signs of metal fatigue, splitting, or sloppy amateur solder repairs. The handle holds its position tightly when set upright and does not flop down, making it perfect for open shelf display.

Wear: Minor age-appropriate surface wear, light scuffing on the interior base, and minor tarnish/old solder residue on the underside near the foot rim as expected for an authentic piece well over 130 years old.

Please review all high-resolution photos for a precise look at the condition, dimensions, and hallmarks.

Search Keywords

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