William Pitts & Joseph Preedy

This is an exceptional late 18th century neoclassical basket made in London in 1798 by silversmith William Pitts & Joseph Preedy. It has been made to the very highest quality with cast and applied lions paw feet with acanthus leaves. The basket is decorated with a beautiful open weave design creating an extremely elegant and beautiful work of sculptural silver. 

William Pitts (c.1755–after 1806) and Joseph Preedy were accomplished London silversmiths working during the late Georgian period, whose partnership produced some notable examples of English silverware. Pitts came from an established family of silversmiths and was the son of Thomas Pitts, under whom he served his apprenticeship before entering his own maker's mark in 1781. Joseph Preedy, who had completed his apprenticeship and gained his freedom as a plateworker in 1773, registered his first maker's mark in 1777. The two men entered into partnership in 1791, initially working from Litchfield Street, Soho, and subsequently from Great Newport Street. Their collaboration, which lasted until approximately 1799, was particularly associated with the production of elegant epergnes, elaborate table centrepieces, dessert baskets, stands and other finely crafted silver objects, reflecting the fashionable Neoclassical taste of the period. Both makers also undertook important commissions, and their work is believed to have been supplied through the prestigious Royal goldsmiths and retailers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. Following the dissolution of their partnership, both continued to work independently, with Preedy producing some particularly impressive silver and silver-gilt pieces, including wine coolers and ceremonial tableware. Their surviving work demonstrates the high standard of craftsmanship and artistic ambition characteristic of the finest English silver production at the turn of the nineteenth century.