Basket: sweetmeat

A jasperware sweetmeat basket, extensively perforated, with white jasper sprigged decoration. Delicate pieces, like this basket, were very difficult to make. Also, they would often distort in the kiln during firing. It was made to contain small sweatmeats which were eaten during the dessert course. The dessert course was very elaborate with many different types of sweatmeats, custards etc. The whole table would have been decorated with the best tableware, flowers, fruit and and fancy decorations made from sugar.