Bird Scene Basket #1

This is a superb reticulated basket made by Fuerstenberg in the 18th century. A rare model that is nicer than their other ones plus it comes with a bird scene instead of jsut flowers so it's extra special :) The piece has a fancy reticulated side to it painted with a turquoise ground color. The top edge is left white with a fancy gold trim to it, a handle to either side and a superb hand painted bird scene on the bottom inside including two birds in a landscape surrounding with some bugs scattered about. The mayfly and cricket are extra nice! The outside reticulated area has a relief design to it. The basket displays nicely but has sustained some damage over the years and has been repaired. There are some hairlines / cracks as shown that were once stabilized by staples of which only one near the handle remains. One small piece of the reticlation is missing. The longest cracks goes into the bottom of the basket and to the scene as shown. A good restorer could hide all this perfectly but it displays nicely the way it is and given its age of 250 years or so it is really in great shape! The basket is 3.75 inches tall at the handles and 8.875 inches in diameter so a nice size. The bottom is unglazed which is typical of their earlier pieces but you can still see the faint F mark and another blue mark under that. A nice early piece from a great maker! Please email me for more information or photos.