Dutch silver Louis XVI bread basket, Willem Pont, Amsterdam

An elegant bread basket with a typical Louis XVI design. The boat-shaped basket is entirely constructed from an openwork grid of flowers that are connected to each other. The upper and lower edges are in the shape of corn leaves and cobs. On the sides of the basket are two large handles in the shape of bows, with a seemingly hanging medallion with a portrait of a Roman emperor underneath. The basket is supported by four legs in the shape of casual bows with bobbins. 

Willem Pont was born in Amsterdam in 1734 as the son of the famous silversmith Jan Diederik Pont (1701-1767). He was admitted to the guild as a master silversmith in 1755 and also held a position in the board within the guild between 1764 and 1797. He was trained by his father and worked in his studio. When his father fell ill in 1764, he took over the studio.