An important Classical Centrepiece on Stand made in London in 1787 by James Young.

The basket is of boat shaped form with two high loop side handles and stands on an openwork base with four cast foliate feet and acanthus legs, with leaf capped mouldings.  The base is hung with cast laurel and berry swags between the supports.  The main body is decorated with flat fluting and is pierced with bands of harebells and fan shaped decorative motifs at the front, rear and sides.  The base and rim are also decorated with reed and tie bands.  Both the front and reverse displaying an oval laurel cartouche, containing a contemporary Armorial on one side and presentation inscription on the other.  The Basket sits on a beautiful, large, conforming stand of domed oval form with reed and tie border and cast acanthus scroll ends.  The centre displays a stylised flat fluted flower head on a matted ground with four raying flower heads in semi-circles.

The inscription reads 'The Sixteenth Annual Meeting Sir Willm Stanley Bart President 1783 Won By W.E. Wynne Esqr Black Horse Doct Graham'.
 
The arms are those of Owen Gwynedd quartering Wynne, for William Wynne of Wern (1708-1796) who married Jane, eldest daughter and sole heiress of Edward Williams of Peniarth, co. Merioneth.
 
Sir William Stanley 5th Bt. of Hooton (d.1792) was married to Barbara, daughter of John Towneley of Towneley. (2)

Hooton Hall, Cheshire, was easily one of the finest houses in the north west, perhaps even in the country.   In 1788  the fifth Baronet, Sir William Stanley, engaged the fashionable architect, Samuel Wyatt (b. 1737 - d.1807) to build a new mansion and entrance lodges. Wyatt had worked for some of the finest architects in England, such as James Paine and Robert Adam, and was renowned for his understated neo-classical style. In his early twenties, Wyatt had been employed as Adam's Clerk of Works during the construction of Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. The close involvement heavily influenced the young Wyatt, leading to a similar style that can be seen in his design for Hooton Hall, an image of which is attached.

It can be strongly argued that this piece was designed by Samuel Wyatt, while he was working for Sir William Stanley, as it has a feel for Wyatt’s designs, a more masculine form of the Neo Classical.  It displays the fan shaped motifs seen in his interiors and a Wyatt ceiling design at Goodwood is attached and is similar to that as seen on the base of this centrepiece.  We know that Wyatt designed silver, as he was closely involved with the famous silversmith, Matthew Boulton.

The Basket and Stand are in most excellent condition and both are very well marked.  James Young was an exceptional silversmith, whose work does not survive in great quantity.  He was apprentice to John Muns and had workshops at 32, Aldersgate Street, when this piece was made.  A.G. Grimwade in “London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837” emphasises that Young’s work alone or jointly is of elegant neo-Classical design and fine finish, particularly his epergnes.”

Height, to the top of the handles:  11 inches, 27.5 cm.

Length of the stand: 21 inches, 52.5 cm

Width of the stand:  11.5 inches, 28.75 cm.

Weight: 99oz.