STAR SALES

Among the top lots this month are a glittering turban ornament and a trio of Donald Duck drawings, finds Caroline Wheater

- Caroline Wheater

1. Women's work

Estimate £3,000-£5,000

Sold £21,648

A 17th-century beadwork basket, with visual references to the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660, was a star lot at Roseberys' Fine & Decorative sale. The beautifully preserved piece was from the collection of Sir Frederick Henry Richmond (1873-1953), former chairman of Debenhams and Harvey Nichols, and had been exhibited at the V&A.

The antique basket was made from wood and decorated with coloured beads depicting a couple flanking a manor house, and a profusion of exotic animals including a cheetah and a camel. These items are sometimes described as 'layette' baskets, used to hold children's clothes during christening ceremonies, or as betrothal gifts for placing gloves or sprigs of rosemary inside at weddings, and also as table centrepieces. The decorative element, beadwork, was a popular pastime with young ladies from wealthy families during the Restoration period (1660-1688), and large quantities of glass beads were imported from Venice and Amsterdam to supply them. Said Jack Wallis, head of sale: 'It is immensely rare to find examples of these beadwork baskets in museums, let alone at auction. It's a wonderful window into life during the Restoration period, and the inclusion of a lion and a unicorn in the decoration is almost certainly a message of support for the Royalist cause.' Following fierce bidding, it sold to a private buyer in the UK.roseberys.co.uk

2. A boy prodigy

Estimate £2,000-£3,000

Sold £34,040