Woven Wine Cradle Appraisal

Silver-Plated Faux Bamboo Woven Wine Cradle

This item is an elegant silver-plated wine basket or cradle, designed to hold a standard Bordeaux-style bottle at a slight angle to allow sediment to settle. The piece features a sophisticated 'faux bamboo' or 'trompe l'oeil' aesthetic, meticulously constructed with silver wire to mimic organic wicker weaving. Its elongated, boat-shaped body consists of a flat-weave lattice bottom transitioned into vertical wire ribs at the sides. The rim and prominent handle are crafted from thicker, bundled silver rods reinforced with spiral-wrapped wire to simulate the joints and texture of natural bamboo. This style was highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in France and England, as part of the Japonisme and Chinoiserie movements. The craftsmanship is high-quality, showing complex soldering points where the delicate wires intersect the frame. Regarding condition, the piece shows a light silver patina with minor tarnishing in the recessed areas (natural oxidation), which is typical for its age. There is no visible crushing or broken wires, suggesting it has been well-preserved. The reflective quality of the surface indicates a high silver content in the plating, though no specific hallmarks are visible from this angle. It likely dates from the late Victorian or Edwardian period (circa 1890-1915).