Victorian Silverplate Napkin Basket with Swing Handle
Lexington Silver Plate Co. — Quadruple Plate
United States, c. 1890–1910
A late-Victorian silverplate napkin basket featuring a square tray form with softly rolled corners and an ornate swing handle. The interior is decorated with a hand-engraved botanical motif of leaves and berries, a common naturalistic design element in American tableware of the period.
The basket is stamped on the underside: Lexington S.P. Co. — Quadruple Plate — 101
“Quadruple plate” indicates a heavier electroplated silver finish typical of higher-quality silverplate production in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The raised sides and hinged handle give the piece a sculptural profile, while the engraved center panel catches light beautifully in candlelit settings. The softly aged silver surface retains a gentle patina that enhances the character of the piece.
Originally intended for folded cloth napkins, this basket also works beautifully in staged environments for:
• folded linen napkins
• wedding programs
• escort cards
• petals or favors
Material: Silverplate over base metal
Maker: Lexington Silver Plate Company
Period: Late Victorian / Early Edwardian, c. 1890–1910
Origin: United States
Mark: Lexington S.P. Co. – Quadruple Plate – 101
