Very Rare "Old Sheffield Plate" Basket

I bought this unusual basket from a renowned antique silver dealer in the area of the Main Line of Philadelphia.  He identified the basket as "Old Sheffield Plate".  Old Sheffield Plate is a highly sought after and valuable antique due to its age and special creation.  Old Sheffield plate was actually made by accident by Thomas Boulsover in 1745 when he bonded silver with copper.  Eventually a new method was invented whereby copper was sandwiched between silver and rolled into a thin sheet which was meticulously worked into a piece of tableware.  The edges are often plain, there is no trim.  Sometimes they are bent over.  Sometimes the bottom of an item was covered with tin, explaining why it would be black, other times more silver. 

In this large basket there is a type of metal that is braided and attached to the Old Sheffield Plate bottom and moveable handle to form the basket.  It is amazing to see such craftsmanship and remember that it was hand made with such high specifications that it still holds its original shape today!  It may have been used to hold or display eggs on a sideboard.  It has an antique patina.  Very special!! 12" w x 9"t.