Benjamin Smith II & James Smith III
An Elegant Silver-gilt Basket Centrepiece
Benjamin Smith II & James Smith III
An Elegant Silver-gilt Basket Centrepiece
George III
London, 1809
Maker’s mark of Benjamin & James Smith
Length: 32 cm, 12.5 in
Weight: 1,792 g, 57 oz 12 dwt
The basket on four feet decorated with shells, the body imitating an openwork basket decorated with vine tendrils, leaves and grapes. Each leaf cast and applied individually.
Benjamin and James Smith were brother who were in partnership from 1809 until 1812 after having registered their joint mark. They lived and worked in Birmingham, for some time in partnership with Matthew Boulton, before moving to London to work closely with Paul Storr and the renowned firm of Rundell & Bridge. The excellent quality of their work is such that it is comparable to the royal silversmith, Paul Storr; the work of Benjamin Smith can be found in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen.
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