A laurel wreath is a symbol of victory and honour.  It is believed that the wreath dates back to ancient Greece & Rome, where members of Greco-Roman society would hand-make ring-shaped “wreaths” using bay leaves, small fruits & flowers. The wreath symbolises the crown, whether it be for martial victory and a successful leader after his triumph or as the prize for an ancient Olympian.  Some Universities still crown their graduates with a Laurel wreath as a sign of their achievements and ambition, hence the term ‘Laureate’. This 10” Round basket reflects the complete ring which is the more modern shape for the Laurel wreath compared to the ancient horseshoe shape.  Bay leaves are used as the base of the design, still popular today as a seasoning in cooking and found as small potted trees in gardens.  The small ‘Valentine’ flowers are inspired from the Mountain Laurel found in California.  Each flower is finely hand painted with tiny pink dots on a white ground, and the buds painted using mother of pearl. The \"Belleek Masterpiece Collection\" is a celebration of the craft of creating Belleek and the wonderful legacy of great and varied design styles since the company was founded, over one hundred and sixty years ago, in 1857. This Collection is a combinaion of old designs from our extensive archive along with many new creations inspired by our rich history of unique and innovative design. To add this to this mix, some of the older pieces in the group have been painted differently from their original style of decoration.  Each of the seventeen pieces in this compilation is marked by a Masterpiece stamp emphasising the excellence and significance of every piece in the collection.  This Masterpiece Laurel Basket has been beautifully hand crafted by the skilled craftspeople at Belleek Pottery. This Basket has been through the famous 16 hand process to get to you today. Part of the 2019 Masterpiece Collection this Masterpiece Basket comes with a unique stamp making it an extra special gift this year.  Hand Crafted and Painted Made in Ireland Part of the 2019 Masterpiece Collection Comes in stunning Belleek gift box Measures 26.7cmD x 5.7cmH Due to the hand crafted nature of this piece, it is made to order. Please allow extra time for this piece to be made and shipped from Ireland. Please email websales@belleek.ie for any information on production.