MATTHEW BOULTON. A very rare George III Wirework Bread/Fruit Basket made in Birmingham in 1802 by Matthew Linwood.

The Basket stands on an oval foot decorated with reeding.  The main body has sides consisting of interlocking wirework strips made to simulate a wicker basket.  The oval base is plain in design and is engraved with a Crest with the Coronet of a Baron above.  The sides rise to a curved plain band, with gadrooned edge.  The handle consists of two arched wirework bands, with an oval cartouche in the centre.  The basket is of the finest quality in design and production and is fully marked on the handle and the foot.

The  crest is of Romilly with a Baron's coronet. The first member of the Romilly family to rise to prominence was John Romilly,  who was Solicitor General , Attorney General  and Master of the Rolls.   He was Member of Parliament for Bridport 1832-1835 and 1846-1847 and was MP for Devonport 1847-1852.  He was made a Queen's Counsel in 1843.

Matthew Boulton (3 September 1728 – 17 August 1809) was an English businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and silversmith. He was a business partner of the Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century, the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the mechanisation of factories and mills. Boulton applied modern techniques to the minting of coins, striking millions of pieces for Britain and other countries, and supplying the Royal Mint with up-to-date equipment. 

Born in Birmingham, he was the son of a Birmingham manufacturer of small metal products who died when Boulton was 31. By then Boulton had managed the business for several years, and thereafter expanded it considerably, consolidating operations at the Soho Manufactory, built by him near Birmingham. At Soho, he adopted the latest techniques, branching into silver plate, ormolu ("gilt bronze") and other decorative arts. He became associated with James Watt when Watt's business partner, John Roebuck was unable to pay a debt to Boulton, who accepted Roebuck's share of Watt's patent as settlement. He then successfully lobbied Parliament extend Watt's patent for an additional 17 years, enabling the firm to market Watt's Steam engine .  The firm installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines in Britain and abroad, initially in mines and then in factories.   A painting of Boulton is attached and his importance in British History is reinforced by his image being on a former English £ 50 note.

Length: 13 inches, 32.5 cm.

Width: 10 inches, 25 cm.

Height, to the rim: 5 inches, 12.5 cm.

Height to the top of the handle: 11.5 inches, 28.75 cm.

Weight: 31 oz.