This absolutely exquisite Antique Brilliant Cut Crystal Basket with its gleaming silver swing handle will be a delightful, sparkling addition to your home. Difficult to capture all the sparkle and brilliance in a photograph, the basket has all the design elements of the "Brilliant Period" in glassmaking, when unadorned crystal blanks were turned into "multi-faceted confections, whose cut and engraved surfaces splashed light around a room". The elegant swing handle is embellished with a classic bead detail and its hallmarks reveal that it dates from the late 19th century and was crafted in the Netherlands using .833 silver.

For sweet or savory nibbles, for bonbons, candies or sugar, this petite basket will certainly sparkle and shine as a beloved addition to your collection.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. Circa 1880s. In very good antique condition. 4.5"D x 2.75"H (5.5"H with handle raised).

Learn More About .800 Silver

Most silver items include a stamp to indicate the purity of the silver being used. Items containing the purest forms of silver would be labeled .999, but in reality, silver is too soft to be used in manufacture unless it is mixed with other metals. When metals are combined, they are known as alloys. Thus, most silver, including items that are known as sterling silver, fall into the alloy category. For an item to be deemed sterling silver, 92.5% of the metal content in the alloy must be pure silver. Hence, many sterling silver items are labeled .925.

Below are some of the most common types of silver alloys, with information on how they are often marked:

• Brittania silver (950): Brittania silver is an alloy made of 95% silver, which exceeds the requirement for sterling silver. It is most often marked 950. This silver qualifies as sterling, but it is slightly softer than sterling pieces marked 925 or simply sterling.
• Sterling silver (925): This is the standard for silver, identifying a silver item that is at least 92.5% silver mixed with copper to give it strength. Marks on these pieces include 925 or Sterling. Any mark indicating a higher silver content, such as 950, would also qualify as sterling.
• Coin silver (900): Since it is only 90% silver, this alloy cannot be referenced as sterling. Items made from this alloy may include marks such as 900, Coin, and Standard.
• European silver (800): Sometimes referred to as continental silver, this is another non-sterling type of silver alloy. Marks can include 800, 825, 830, or 850, indicating 80, 82.5, 83, and 85% silver content, respectively.