Sterling Silver Bread Basket belonging to Mary Theresa Stables and Ashton Nicholas Every Mosley
Mosley/Stables Bread Basket 1 Mosley/Stables Bread Basket 2 Mosley/Stables Bread Basket 3
Although in 1820, giving a cake basket as a wedding present was not as popular as it was during the Victorian & Edwardian eras, they were still a popular gift or purchase for a wedding. They later became known as bridal baskets.
It was commonplace to have one’s coat of arms engraved on a silver service. In most cases there was only room for an armorial crest due to limited space. This showed wealth, status and was also a discouragement to thieves.
Ashton Nicholas Every Mosley was born on 21st November 1792 and died on 4th October 1875. He was the son of Ashton Nicholas Mosley and Mary Morley. He married Mary Theresa Stables, daughter of William Stables, on 14th of February 1820. He held the offices of High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Deputy Lieutenant for Derbyshire and Justice of the Peace for Derbyshire, and lived at Burnaston House, Egginton. Details of the house can be viewed here.
Mary Theresa was born in 1797 in Hemsworth. At the age of 16 she inherited a fortune from her father, consisting of several thousand pounds in money and bonds and lands in Empsall, South Kirkby and Hensall together with a mansion House.
Mosley/Stables arms
Blazoned: Quarterly – 1st and 4th, sable a chevron between three battle axes argent; 2nd and 3rd, .or a fesse between three eagles displayed sable. Crest – An eagle displayed ermine. Motto – Mos legem regit.
The arms on the basket has the field divided into quarters with a 5th in the centre This is called an ‘Escutcheon of Pretence' which signifies that the wife is an heiress.
The basket was made circa 1819 by Joseph Angell, a prestigious London silversmith. These baskets could take up to a year to make. (A piece of this size and quality would have been commissioned). The position and characteristics of the engraved knight’s helmet means "esquire'. This also is in line with Ashton Every Mosley. From all the information above I believe it was owned by Ashton Every Mosley and Mary Theresa Mosley and it may have been a wedding gift, or possibly a gift for their first son’s birth (Colonel Ashton Mosley b. 5 Feb 1821, d. 15 May 1887).
Brian Wallace