This silver basket has previously been the subject of an email exchange between myself and Giorgio Busetto, who gave his opinion that it was of German origin.
The hallmarks show it to have been assayed in London in 1901. It is marked with an upper case letter 'F' for foreign and is struck with the initials JGP for John George Piddington.
Apart from the hallmarks, there are two other marks as shown here.
Now, I tried many websites to ascertain what these marks represented but without success. I did subsequently find however, on a website (see endnote) a question as to origin of a silver slipper with identical marks in all respects to my basket.
I decided to await developments. and was rewarded to see a response couched in such positive terms as to allow me to accept this as authoritative.
The slipper, and consequently my basket, are of German origin and the marks called a 'half flower' and a 'crowned C', are apparently pseudomarks used by Ludwig Neresheimer & Co, of Hanau, Germany.
The two marks are identified as Schleissner's. I am not sure of the connection between Neresheimer and Schleissner but I am content with the information such as it is.
The questions I wish to ask are:
1 Are there any other collectors who subscribe to this website with similar items?
2 Does anyone know of the extent to which John George Piddington imported this German silver?
3 Was JGP a silversmith in his own right?
4 According to an article on The Antique Silver Industry of Hanau, Neresheimer enjoyed a long successful relationship with Berthold Mueller, his agent in London, and this begs the question, did JGP buy from Mueller or direct from Neresheimer?
If anyone can throw any further light on JGP, I would be very pleased to learn of it.
Here below are some pictures of my basket. The pseudo marks can be seen at the top left of the cherubs although in my picture the crown doesn't show due to my bad photography.
This view is what is seen when one looks into the basket from above. Incidentally, I have included a view of the bottom of the basket where, at the top can be seen a flat oblong shape which has scratched on it what looks like 2441, although it isn't quite all on the oblong.
I wonder what this means?
The description of this basket as provided by the seller when I bought it is that:
‘It is supported on four claw feet and they terminate in a Fleur de Lys design.
The main body is of floral and lattice relief shaped in a boat style.
The interior depicts a group of three cherubs at play .The dish measures 11cmx8cmx5cm and weighs 4gm.’
I cannot better this description.
The hallmarks as described by the seller, which I have ascertained as correct are;
‘The initials JGP in capital upper case, a lion passant, a small letter f, lower case. These are contained in square boxes with a double dimpled base. A large F, upper case follows in an oval frame, followed by a leopard's head.’

Les Salvage


This is the interesting research that Les Salvage has made about its silver basket.
ASCAS is pleased to publish this e-mail and photos and hopes for a quick reply by ASCAS members to Les’ questions.
Giorgio Busetto


Endnote: the website is the online version of Silver Magazine. The question was submitted in March/April issue and the replay was published in September/October 2005 issue