A Scottish George III sterling silver swing handle table basket, Patrick Robertson, Edinburgh, 1769

A Scottish George III sterling silver swing handle table basket
Patrick Robertson, Edinburgh
1769
Centered by a coat of arms.
height 10in (25.5cm); width 11 1/2in (29cm); depth 10 1/4in (26cm); weight approximately 20oz troy

Footnote:
The arms engraved on this table basket are those of Stewart and Gordon.

These arms likely commemorate the marriage of Major General Alexander Stewart 1739-1794) of Afton in the County of Wigtownshire, in the western part of the traditional district of Galloway, Scotland and Catharine (aka Katring) Gordon. They were married at the Parish Church of Glasserton in the County of Wigtownshire, on 1 February 1770.

Alexander was a career officer in the British Army being commissioned as an Ensign in the 37th Regiment of Foot on the 8th April 1755. During the American Revolutionary War, he commanded a body of men at Orangeburg was present at the Battle of Eutaw Springs on the 8th September 1781 in the state (province) of South Carolina, this being the last major engagement in the Carolinas. At this time, held the rank of Colonel in the 3rd Regiment of Foot. Subsequently Alexander was promoted as a Colonel on the 16th May 1780 having been previously promoted as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Foot on the 7th July 1775. The final rank he achieved was as a Major General on the 28th April 1790. He was later granted the Colonelcy of the 2nd (Queen s Royal) Regiment of Foot on the 20th November 1793. His last active duty was commanding the First Brigade of Infantry in the Duke of York s Army during the Flanders Campaign which was part of the French Revolutionary Wars that culminated with the retreat to Holland in 1794 after which he returned home and later fell ill and died on the 16th December 1794.

Alexander also sat in the House of Commons at Westminster as the Member of Parliament for Kirkcudbright Stewartry from 1786 to 1794.

Condition
Weight approximately 20oz troy.Fully marked to side of base. Handle apparently unmarked. General marks, scratches, spotting, small dings, rubbing, tarnishing and wear. Some bending to sides. Areas of repair at joints of rim and foot. A break noted as visible in catalogue photos. Hallmarks rubbed.