A FINE AND RARE AMERICAN SILVER CAKE BASKET

Details

A FINE AND RARE AMERICAN SILVER CAKE BASKET
MAKER'S MARK OF VAN VOORHIS & SCHANCK, NEW YORK, 1791-1793

Flaring octagonal, on an oval foot pierced with pales, the rim pirced with alternating pales and foliate scrolls above a band of bright-cut paterae and roulette-work borders, with a reeded bail handle, one side engraved with a coat-of-arms within a shield, the other with a crest within a shield, marked under base--13 1/2 in. long; 10 1/2 in. high, overall
(34 oz.)

Provenance

The arms are those of Delafield impaling Hallet, for John Delafield (March 16, 1748-July 3, 1824) and his wife, Ann Hallet (February 24, 1766-March 16, 1839).

John Delafield was born in London, and in 1783 moved to New York City, where he had Loyalist connections. When he arrived, New York was still held by the British, and Delafield brought with him the first copy of the provisional peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain. Beginning his career as a merchant, Delafield became a pioneer in marine underwriting, and founded the United States Insurance Company, of which he later became president. In 1787, he helped found the Mutual Insurance Company, the first fire insurance company in New York City. In 1792, he was appointed one of the directors of the New York branch of the United States Bank, and in 1799 he chartered the Manhattan Company Bank.

Ann Hallet was the daughter of Joseph Hallet, a New York merchant. In 1791, John Delafield purchased a 140-acre farm on the East River from his father-in-law, where Delafield built his country house "Sunswick," in 1792. His city house was no. 9 Pearl Street.

Christie's, June 3, 1989, lot 289

Firestone & Parson, Boston

Lot Essay

American cake baskets are extremely rare, and appear to have been made exclusively in New York in the 18th century. There are only four other known 18th century examples: a rococo basket by Daniel Christian Fueter at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; another rococo basket by Myer Myers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; a neoclassical example by Alexander Gordon (American Art from American Collections, illus. 126); and another neoclassical example by Simeon Bayley at the Museum of the City of New York. The Bayley basket is similar to the present example in its octagonal shape and piercing (illustrated in V. Isabelle Miller, Silver by New York Makers, 1938, no. 21, p. 45).