A Victorian sterling silver fourteen-basket epergne Francis Boone Thomas, London, 1884

The frame hung with floral swags raised on four scrolling feet, surrounded by twelve branches, four with hanging footed circular baskets, eight branches terminating with circular dishes, four with circular baskets and four with navette-form baskets, centering two tiers of central navette-form baskets and an interior pineapple-form finial; together with nine matching sterling silver footed, pierced baskets; all baskets monogrammed, "ALS."

(H: 17 in. W: 22 1/2 in. D: 22 in. (approx. overall), Total weight: 342.9 oz. t.)

Provenance

By descent in the Scott-Wheeler family.

Generally good condition. Some light surface scratches and occasional dings and scuffs present, commensurate with age and use. Some heavier scratches and scuffs present to interiors of baskets. Some occasional spots of tarnish commensurate with age. One small circular hanging basket with break to handle with some small losses at break. A few navette-form fitted baskets (that fit to stand) with slight dents along base ring edge. One navette-form standing basket with slight split to scrolled foot with weakness evident, some signs of probable solder repairs to underside for additional reinforcement. Some other standing baskets with possible solder reinforcement to base joints. The feet of the epergne with slight splits / lines, which may be caused the fragility of the upturned shell points, or may be done in the making (as they are in the same place on each foot). One epergne foot with small pin-sized hole (possibly from making). Some oxidation and polish residue throughout. No glass liners present (and likely not originally present).Each basket fully marked to underside, the stand fully marked, the four removable arms fully marked. A few baskets with maker's mark 'WJ' struck over the FBT maker's mark. All the navette-form baskets additionally marked for retailer: THOMAS/153 NEW BOND ST. Three of the small navette-form footed baskets marked with date mark 1883.