Victorian Renaissance Revival Meriden Silver Plate Cake Basket circa 1860

Large ovoid silver plate cake basket with etched and repousse designs from the Italian Renaissance that were reimagined in the Victorian era. A heavy metal dish with a handle and short pedestal that was silver plated. The body is oval with a laurel leaf pattern on the mouth rim. The central well has opposing medallions of a Greek warrior and an Italian Renaissance noble. They are surrounded by etched arabesques. The pedestal foot has a band with a ridged rod bundle and laurel leaf. The handle, which stands up on its own, has a descending bead design with an apical monogrammed plate etched with the letters M and A. The base rests flat on a surface.   There is a mark under the pedestal base. It reads; MERIDEN (RIBA)? CO. in a circle around the number 1950.   MEASUREMENTS 11 5/8” (25.5 cm) long x 9 7/8” (28.1 cm) wide x 3 1/8” (7.9 cm) tall. 9” (22.9 cm) tall with handle extended. Weighs 1 lb 11.2 oz (770 g)   CONDITION   There are no breaks, cracks, or dents. There are scratches to the