Epergne made in London in 1787 by William Pitts

 The Epergne stands 16.8” (42cm) high, measures 26” (66 cm) long,18 1/2” (47cm) wide and weighs 3777g.  This does not include any of the cobalt blue glass dishes which can be used if you wished to display fruit or a floral display in this Epergne (this glass is not the original but was made for this Epergne).  The body of the Epergne is fully hallmarked for 1787 and the main basket for 1786 (the smaller pieces are part marked and have no date letter as is to expected at this date).  This suggests that the piece was probably hallmarked around the beginning of June 1787 - as the London assay office year ends on the 30th May.  The Epergne stands on circular pad feet with acanthus leaf decoration and fluted legs. The body and the main basket have a combined acanthus leaf and egg-and-dart border,  while the smaller baskets have a Vitruvian scroll border.  The arms are of scroll form with floral decoration and the main basket is supported on a globe foot with stylised acanthus leaf and scroll decoration.